FROM  THE  LIBRARY  OF 
REV.   LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON,  D.  D. 

BEQUEATHED    BY  HIM  TO 

THE   LIBRARY  OF 

PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


Section        12-£Q 


IHH 


AMERICANA    GERMANICA 

The  Harmony  Society 

A    CHAPTER 

IN 

GERMAN    AMERICAN    CULTURE    HISTORY 


John  Archibald   Bole,   Ph.    D. 

Sometime  Harrison  Research  Fellow   in   Germanics, 
University  of  Pennsylvania. 

PAPER  FROM  THE  AMERICAN  ETHNOGRAPHICAL  SURVEY. 


AMERICANA    GERMANICA    PRESS. 

PHILADELPHIA 
(Reprinted  from  German  American  2fnnaU,  Vol.  II.) 

1904. 


££& 

COPYRIGHTED    BY    J.    A.    BOLE 
1905 


Illustrations. 


PAGE 

The  Great  House  and  Church  at  Economy 6 

A  Member  of  the  Harmony  Society 33 

Manuscript  Hymn  Book 37 

House,  Hotel  and  Graveyard  at  Harmony,  Pa 65 

Wagon  built  at  Harmony,  Ind 73 

Town  Hall  and  Street  at  Economy 97 

Hotel  and  Woolen  Mill  at  Economy 101 

Flour  Mill  and  Silk  Factory  at  Economy 113 

Coach  and  Fire  Engine  and  Laundry  at  Economy 117 

Park  at  Economy 121 

View  of  Economy  and  Typical  House 132 

Wine  Vaults    140 

Park  and  Interior  of  Great  House 145 

Tools  made  by  the  Society 147 

Harmony   Printing  Press 153 

Tools  made  by  the  Society 163 

Rapp's  House  in  Iptingen,  View  of  Iptingen 17- 


AMERICANA  GERMANICA 

New  Series 

MONOGRAPHS    DEVOTED    TO    THE    COMPARATIVE 

STUDY  OF  THE 

Literary,  Linguistic  and  Other  Cultural  Relations 

OF 

Germany  and  America 


EDITOR 

MARION    DEXTER     LEARNED 

University  of  Pennsylvania 


The  Harmony  Society 

A  CHAPTER  IN  GERMAN  AMERICAN  CULTURE 

HISTORY. 


I.  Constitution  and  organization. 

II.  Moral  and  religious  views. 

III.  Harmony,  Pennsylvania.  1804-1815. 

IV.  Harmony,  Indiana,  1815-1825. 

V.  Economy,  Pennsylvania.  1825-1868. 

VI.  Economy,  Pennsylvania.     1868-1904. 

VII.  The  home  of  the  Society.     Publications.     Language. 
VIII.  Bibliography. 


PREFACE. 

The  materials  for  this  account  of  the  Harmony  Society  are 
for  the  most  part  found  at  Economy,  Pennsylvania.     They  are : 

i.  Private  correspondence.  This  consists  of  detached  per- 
sonal letters,  to  and  from  members  of  the  Society,  which  have 
been  preserved  by  the  parties  concerned.  The  earliest  of  these 
is  dated  1794. 

2.  Business  correspondence.  Letters  written  on  business 
by  the  Society  from  1804  to  the  present  time  have  been  preserved 
in  copy  or  abstract.  These  letters  and  books  are  neatly  and  sys- 
tematically kept.  Some  of  the  letters  received  by  the  Society 
are  also  on  file. 

3.  Ledgers,  Sales  Books,  Bills  of  Lading  Books  and  other 
account  books. 

4.  Scattered  memoranda  of  several  of  the  trustees. 

5.  The  publications  of  the  Society. 

6.  Evidence  and  decisions  in  suits  brought  against  the 
Society. 

a.  Testimony  in  the  suit  of  Schreiber  vs.  Rapp.  1835.  (In 
Mss.) 

b.  Nachtrieb  vs.  Harmony  Society.  Decision  of  Justice 
Grier  in  the  U.  S.  Circuit  Court.  Opinion  of  Mr.  Justice  Camp- 
bell in  the  U.  S.  Supreme  Court,  1856. 

c.  Schwartz  et  al  vs.  Duss  et  al.  Brief  on  the  part  of  the 
respondents,  in  the  Circuit  Court  of  the  United  States,  Novem- 
ber term,  1894.  Record  in  the  United  States  Circuit  Court  of 
Appeals,  March  term,  1900.  Appellee's  Brief  in  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States,  October  term,  1903. 

7.  Published  articles  on  the  history  of  the  Society. 

Of  these,  Williams,  "The  Harmony  Society,"  1866,  is  excel- 
lent. Most  of  the  reliable  information  contained  in  other  ac- 
counts is  taken  from  this  book. 


PREFACE. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  this  work  to  give  an  account  of  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Society,  and  then  a  narrative  of  the  chief 
events  in  its  history. 

The  collection  of  the  material  for  this  study  was  part  of  the 
work  done  in  1902,  under  the  direction  of  the  American  Ethno- 
graphical Survey.  The  knowledge  of  the  existence  of  manuscript 
sources  at  Economy  was  received  from  Professor  Marion  D. 
Learned,  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  Director  of  the  Sur- 
vey. He  furnished  the  introduction  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Har- 
mony Society  and  obtained  permission  from  them  to  use  the 
sources  above  mentioned,  and  directed  the  execution  of  the 
work. 

I  take  this  opportunity  of  expressing  my  gratitude  to  Pro- 
fessor Learned,  for  his  indispensable  aid  in  the  conception  and 
carrying  out  of  this  work;  of  thanking  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Duss  for 
their  courteous  permission  to  use  freely  the  material  at  Economy ; 
Mr.  Rudolf  Wagner  for  many  valuable  suggestions;  and  Mr. 
Frederick  Knoedler,  for  important  assistance  in  the  search  for 
materials. 

JOHN  A.  BOLE. 
New  York  City,  March  7,  1904. 


The  Harmony  Society. 

A  Chapter  in  German  American  Culture  History. 


CHAPTER  I. 


Constitution  and  Organization  of  the  Harmony  Society. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  Pietism,  under 
Spener's  personal  influence,  spread  widely  in  Wtirtemberg, 
Spener  and  his  followers  did  not  assume  an  attitude  of  opposi- 
tion to  the  established  church,  but  they  insisted  upon  a  more  sin- 
cere and  consistent  religious  practice.  Their  chief  desire  was  to 
study  the  Bible  and  follow  its  teachings.  They  did  this  not  only 
in  the  public  religious  services,  but  also  in  private  conventicles. 
The  private  religious  meeting  was  one  of  the  most  important 
elements  in  Pietism.  Since  1680  such  conventicles  were  estab- 
lished in  various  places  in  Wiirtemberg.  The  established 
Lutheran  church  endeavored  to  suppress  these  private  meetings. 
In  1707  attendance  at  such  meetings  was  prohibited  on  pain  of 
three  months'  imprisonment.  This  attempted  repression  caused 
the  development  of  a  radical  element  in  Pietism,  the  Separatists. 
As  their  name  indicates,  they  withdrew  altogether  from  the 
established  church,  which  was  to  them  "Babel."  The  idea  of  a 
community  after  the  pattern  of  the  early  Christians  appeared  in 
the  establishment  of  a  common  treasury  in  the  congregations  of 
Separatists.  They  were  also  much  influenced  by  the  Mysticism 
of  Boehme,  Bengel  and  Jung-Stilling.  (Chr.  Kolb,  „Wurtem- 
bergische  Vierteljahrsschrift  fur  Landesgeschichte,"  1900,  p.  75; 
1901,  p.  208.) 


6  The  Harmony  Society. 

The  Harmony  Society,  as  it  was  organized  under  George 
Rapp,  and  established  in  America,  was  an  outgrowth  of  this 
Separatistic  movement  and  an  attempt  to  put  into  practice, 
under  favorable  circumstances,  Separatistic  principles. 

The  constitution  of  the  Harmony  Society  consists  of  ten 
written  contracts  or  agreements  made  at  different  epochs  in  its 
history. 

The  ist,  1805,  made  at  Harmony,  Butler  Co.,  Pa. 

The  2d,  1821,  made  at  Harmony,  Posey  Co.,  Ind. 

The  3d,  1827,  made  at  Economy,  Beaver  Co.,  Pa. 

The  4th,  1836,  made  at  Economy,  Beaver  Co.,  Pa. 

The  5th,  1847,  made  at  Economy,  Beaver  Co.,  Pa. 

The  6th,  1890,  made  at  Economy,  Beaver  Co.,  Pa. 

The  7th,  1892,  made  at  Economy,  Beaver  Co.,  Pa. 

The  8th,  1897,  made  at  Economy,  Beaver  Co.,  Pa. 

The  9th,  1903,  made  at  Economy,  Beaver  Co.,  Pa. 

The  10th,  1903,  made  at  Economy,  Beaver  Co.,  Pa. 

The  members  of  the  Society  had  constituted  a  congregation 
of  Separatists  in  Germany,  where  they  had  listened  to  the  teach- 
ing of  their  pastor,  George  Rapp.  According  to  his  instructions, 
they  left  their  homes  in  Wiirtemberg  and  followed  him  to  Amer- 
ica. They  settled  at  Harmony  and  were  once  more  under  his 
personal  care.  In  Germany  they  had  endeavored  to  approach 
to  the  conditions  of  primitive  Christianity.  The  life  in  the  new 
settlement,  where  all  lived  together  and  worked  for  the  common 
welfare,  made  it  easy  to  take  another  step  in  this  direction,  the 
adoption  of  the  community  of  goods. 

Without  election,  by  common  consent,  George  Rapp  had 
maintained  himself  as  their  leader.  In  order  to  put  their  So- 
ciety on  a  firm  basis,  and  to  prevent  misunderstanding,  articles 
of  association  were  drawn  up  and  signed  by  the  members  on 
February  15,  1805.  This  was  the  date  recognized  as  the  birth- 
day of  the  Society,  and  in  after  years  its  anniversary  was  cele- 
brated as  the  "Harmoniefest." 

The  agreement  contains  five  articles.  The  subscribers 
pledge  themselves : 

(1)  To  give  absolutely  all  their  property  to  George  Rapp 
and  his  associates. 

(2)  To  obey  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  community  and 
to  work  for  its  welfare. 


The   "Great   House"   at    Econom: 


The    (Munch    al    Economy 


The  Harmony  Society.  7 

(3)  If  they  should  desire  to  withdraw  from  the  Society,  not 
to  demand  any  reward  for  labor  or  services. 

In  return,  George  Rapp  and  his  associates  pledge  them- 
selves: 

(1)  To  supply  the  subscribers  with  all  the  necessaries  of  life, 
both  in  health  and  sickness,  and  after  their  death,  to  provide  for 
their  families. 

(2)  In  case  of  withdrawal,  to  return  them  the  value  of  pro- 
perty contributed,  without  interest,  and  to  give  a  donation  in 
money,  to  such  as  contributed  nothing. 

The  original  of  this  agreement,  as  well  as  that  of  1821,  was 
in  German.     The  following  is  an  authorized  translation:* 

"Be  it  hereby  known  to  all  who  need  to  know  it,  that  the 
following  agreement  has  this  day  been  made  and  concluded  be- 
tween us,  the  subscribers  of  the  one  part,  and  George  Rapp  and 
his  associates  of  the  other  part: 

Article  1.  We,  the  subscribers,  on  our  part  and  on  the  part 
of  our  heirs  and  descendants,  deliver  up,  renounce  and  remit  all 
our  estate  and  property  consisting  of  cash,  land  and  chattels,  or 
whatever  it  may  be,  to  George  Rapp  and  his  associates,  in  Har- 
mony, Butler  County,  Pennsylvania,  as  a  free  gift  or  donation, 
for  the  benefit  and  use  of  the  community  there,  and  bind  our- 
selves on  our  part,  as  well  as  on  the  part  of  our  heirs  and  de- 
scendants, to  make  free  renunciation  thereof,  and  to  leave  the 
same  at  the  disposal  of  the  superintendents  of  the  community, 
as  if  we  never  had  nor  possessed  it. 

Article  2.  We  do  pledge  ourselves  jointly  and  severally  to 
submit  to  the  laws  and  regulations  of  the  community,  and  to 
show  due  and  ready  obedience  toward  those  who  are  appointed 
and  chosen  by  the  community  as  superintendents  in  such  a  man- 
ner that  not  only  we  ourselves  endeavor,  by  the  labor  of  our 
hands,  to  promote  the  good  and  interest  of  the  community,  but 
also  to  hold  our  children  and  families  to  do  the  same. 

Article  3.  If,  contrary  to  our  expectation,  the  case  should 
happen,  and  we  jointly  or  severally  could  not  stand  to  it  in  the 
community,  and  we  would  within  a  few  years  or  more  break 
our  promises  and  withdraw  from  the  community,  for  whatever 


*U.  S.  Circuit  Court,  March,  1S00,  Schwartz  vs.  Duss,  Record,,  Vol.  1, 
p.  47. 


8  The  Harmony  Society. 

cause  it  may  be,  never  to  demand  any  reward,  either  for  our- 
selves or  children  or  those  belonging  to  us,  for  any  of  our  labors 
or  services  rendered,  but  whatever  we  jointly  and  severally  shall 
or  may  do,  we  will  have  done  as  a  voluntary  service  for  our 
brethren. 

In  consideration  whereof,  George  Rapp  and  his  associates 
adopt  the  subscribers  jointly  and  severally  as  members  of  the 
community,  whereby  each  of  them  obtains  the  privilege  to  be 
present  at  each  religious  meeting;  not  only  they  themselves,  but 
also  their  children  and  families,  shall  and  will  receive  the  same 
necessary  instructions  in  church  and  school  which  are  needful 
and  requisite  for  their  temporal  good  and  welfare  as  well  as  eter- 
nal felicity. 

Article  4.  George  Rapp  and  his  associates  promise  to  sup- 
ply the  subscribers  jointly  and  severally  with  all  the  necessaries 
of  life,  as  lodging,  meat,  drink  and  clothing,  etc.,  and  not  only 
during  their  healthful  days,  but  also  when  one  or  more  of  them 
become  sick  or  otherwise  unfit  for  labor,  they  shall  have  and 
enjoy  the  same  support  and  maintenance  as  before ;  and  if,  after 
a  short  or  long  period,  the  father  or  mother  of  a  family  should 
die,  or  be  otherwise  departed  from  the  community  and  leave  a 
family  behind,  they  shall  not  be  left  widows  or  orphans,  but 
partake  of  the  same  rights  and  maintenance  as  long  as  they  live 
or  remain  in  the  community,  as  well  in  sick  as  healthful  days, 
the  same  as  before,  or  as  circumstances  or  necessity  may  require. 

Article  5.  And  if  the  case  should  happen  as  stated  above, 
that  one  or  more  of  the  subscribers  after  a  short  or  long  period, 
should  break  their  promise  and  could  or  would  not  submit  to 
the  laws  and  regulations  of  the  church  or  community,  and  for 
that  or  any  other  cause  would  leave  Harmony,  George  Rapp 
and  his  associates  promise  to  refund  him  or  them,  the  value  of 
his  or  their  property  brought  in  without  interest,  in  one,  two  or 
three  annual  installments,  as  the  sum  may  be,  large  or  small ; 
and  if  one  or  more  of  them  were  poor  and  brought  nothing  in 
the  community,  they  shall,  provided  they  depart  openly  and  or- 
derly, receive  a  donation  in  money,  according  to  his  or  their  con- 
duct while  a  member,  or  as  he  or  their  circumstances  and  necessi- 
ties may  require,  which  George  Rapp  and  his  associates  shall  de- 
termine at  his  or  their  departure. 


The  Harmony  Society.  9 

In  confirmation   whereof,  both   parties  have     signed     their 

names. 

Done  in  Harmony,  February  15,  1805." 

Under  this  simple  constitution  the  Society  was  organized 
and  existed  until  1821.  The  one  essential  condition  for  the  har- 
monious growth  of  the  community  was  that  of  obedience  to  the 
founder,  George  Rapp.  He  was  a  man  of  force  and  intelligent 
sympathy,  who  inspired  confidence  and  respect.  He  governed 
the  Society  kindly  but  firmly,  by  appealing  to  the  good  which 
he  believed  to  exist  in  everyone,  and  by  leading  wrong-doers  to 
confess  to  him  their  faults  and  ask  forgiveness.  Those  who 
were  not  amenable  to  such  treatment  and  who  would  not  obey 
his  teachings,  were  allowed  to  leave  of  their  own  accord,  or  they 
were  expelled,  a  punishment  which  it  was  rarely  necessary  to 
employ. 

Most  of  the  original  members  had  contributed  something 
to  the  common  property.  Many  of  them  had  owned  small  es- 
tates in  Germany,  which  they  sold  before  leaving.  Many  later 
inherited  property  there  which  they  collected  as  best  they  could 
through  agents  in  Germany.  In  1813  the  Society  received  13,539 
Gulden  from  claims  to  property  in  Germany.  In  1821  two  of 
the  members,  J.  L.  Baker  and  J.  Reichert,  went  to  Germany  for 
the  purpose  of  taking  possession  of  inheritances  which  had  fallen 
to  the  members  of  the  Society.  They  collected  a  considerable 
sum,  20,706  Gulden.  George  Rapp  had  brought  with  him  2000 
Gulden  of  his  own.  Some  of  the  original  members  had  more 
than  this.  The  richer  helped  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  poorer 
in  coming  to  America.  In  1806  Peter  Schreiber  joined  the  So- 
ciety, bringing  to  it  property  estimated  at  $8000.  He  was  con- 
sidered one  of  the  principle  founders  of  the  wealth  of  the 
Society.* 

There  was  for  a  time  dissatisfaction  in  regard  to  the  com- 
munity of  goods,  some  of  those  who  had  contributed  more, 
thinking  that  they  deserved  greater  recognition.  But  Father 
Rapp's  persuasion  and  work  in  common  for  the  general  welfare. 
soon  silenced  these  complaints,  and  genuine  brotherly  harmony 
was  re-established. 

The  number  of  members  withdrawing  from  the  Society  was 

♦Testimony  of  Dr.  Smith:    Schreiber  vs.  Rapp. 


io  The  Harmony  Society. 

small.  From  1806-1814  twenty-three  left  the  Society,  all  of 
whom,  except  four,  had  contributed  amounts  ranging  from  $840  to 
$1.00.  According  to  the  agreement,  these  contributions  were  re- 
turned. From  1815  to  1825  thirteen  members  left,  three  of  whom 
had  contributed  a  total  of  $148.  From  1825  to  1867,  234  members 
left,  33  of  whom  had  contributed  $5,158,  the  largest  single  contri- 
bution being  $673.  These  were  all  repaid.  In  addition  to  these, 
in  1832,  175  members  withdrew  in  a  body  with  Count  Leon,  re- 
ceiving $117,000. 

George  Rapp  was  the  acknowledged  head  of  the  Society 
thus  constituted.  His  chief  assistant  and  financial  agent  was  his 
adopted  son,  Frederick  Rapp,  who  carried  on  the  business  affairs 
of  the  Society  in  his  own  name. 

The  business  of  the  Society  was  divided  into  departments, 
over  each  of  which  a  superintendent  was  appointed.  At  Har- 
mony, John  L.  Baker  managed  the  store,  Lewis  Schreiber  the 
cotton  factory,  John  Schreiber  the  tavern.  In  like  manner  there 
was  a  superintendent  of  the  woolen  factory,  the  brewery,  or- 
chards, blacksmith  shop,  distillery,  hat  factory  and  other  indus- 
tries. When  the  manufacture  of  silk  was  begun,  Miss  Gertrude 
Rapp  was  made  superintendent.  Accounts  were  kept  with  each 
department.  The  superintendent  was  charged  with  the  money 
and  material  entrusted  to  him,  and  was  credited  with  his  pro- 
ducts. In  1854  accounts  were  kept  with  the  baker,  blacksmith,, 
brewer,  cloth  society,  cooper,  cotton  factory,  distillery,  doctor, 
dyer,  hatter,  joiner,  mill,  potter,  sadler,  saw  mill,  shoemaker,  silk 
factory,  soap  boiler,  tanner,  tailor,  tinner,  turner,  painter,  wagon 
maker,  wool  factory,  watchmaker,  cider  press,  wash  house  and 
wine  cellar. 

Thus  organized,  the  Society  flourished  until  181 5,  at  Har- 
mony, Pa.,  and  then  for  ten  years  more  on  the  Wabash,  at  Har- 
mony, Indiana.  Under  date  of  January  20,  1821,  a  new  agree- 
ment was  signed.  This  differed  from  that  of  1805,  in  being  in- 
tended for  new  members  of  the  Society  already  organized. 

The  obligations  of  the  two  parties  to  the  agreement  are 
the  same  as  in  the  preceding  articles.  The  authorized  transla- 
tion of  these  articles  is  :* 

"Be  it  hereby  known  that  to-day,  '20th  January,  1821/  in  the 

♦Schwartz  vs.  Duss,  Record,  Vol.  I,  p.  50. 


The  Harmony  Society.  II 

year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty-one, 
the  present  agreement,  treaty  and  alliance  was  made  and  con- 
cluded between  us,  the  following  persons  to  wit:  N.  X.,  etc.,  of 
the  one  part  and  George  Rapp  and  his  associates  of  the  other 
part. 

After  the  aforesaid  persons  became  sufficiently  acquainted 
with  the  principles,  rules  and  regulations  of  the  community  of 
George  Rapp  and  his  associates,  by  virtue  of  their  religious  prin- 
ciples, they  have,  after  long  and  mature  reflection,  out  of  their 
own  free  will,  determined  to  join  the  community  of  said  George 
Rapp  and  his  associates,  in  Harmony,  Posey  County,  State  of 
Indiana;  to  that  purpose  the  aforesaid  persons  bind  themselves 
and  promise  solemnly  by  these  presents,  to  comply  with  the 
ordinances,  rules  and  regulations  of  the  community,  and  render 
due  obedience  to  the  superintendents  ordained  by  the  community 
and  to  perform  as  much  as  possible  all  occupations  and  labors 
to  which  they  are  ordered,  and  help  to  promote  the  benefit,  hap- 
piness and  prosperity  of  the  community.  And  if  the  case  should 
happen  that  the  aforesaid  persons,  jointly  or  singly,  after  a  short 
or  long  period  of  time,  leave  the  community  for  any  cause  what- 
ever, they  hereby  bind  themselves  jointly  and  each  for  himself 
separately,  never  and  in  no  case^to  bring  any  account,  nor  make 
any  claim,  either  against  the  association  or  any  individual  mem- 
ber thereof,  for  their  labor  and  services  rendered ;  also,  never  to 
make  any  demand,  ask  or  claim  any  other  payment,  under  any 
name  and  description  whatsoever,  but  will  do  and  have  done  all 
things  out  of  Christian  love,  for  the  good  and  benefit  of  the  com- 
munity, or  else  take  it  as  a  gift,  if  George  Rapp  and  his  asso- 
ciates  willingly   give   them   something. 

However,  George  Rapp  and  his  associates,  in  return,  adopt 
the  aforesaid  persons  into  the  community,  whereby  they  obtain 
prerogative  to  partake  of  all  meetings  for  divine  services  by 
which  they  receive  in  church  and  school  the  necessary  instruc- 
tions, requisite  and  needful  for  their  temporal  benefit  and  hap- 
piness, and  eternal  felicity.  George  Rapp  and  his  associates 
bind  themselves  further  to  supply  the  aforesaid  persons  with  all 
the  wants  and  necessaries  of  life,  to  wit :  Meat,  drink  and  cloth- 
ing, etc.,  and  indeed  not  only  during  their  healthful  days,  but 
also  if  all  or  any  of  them  get  sick  or  otherwise  infirm  and  un- 


12  The  Harmony  Society. 

able  to  work,  they  shall,  as  long  as  they  remain  members  of  the 
community,  receive  and  enjoy  the  same  support  as  before  dur- 
ing their  better  days,  or  as  their  circumstances  require. 

In  confirmation  of  these  presents,  we,  both  parties,  have 
hereunto  set  our  hands  and  seals. 

Done  in  Harmony,  the  day  and  year  above  stated." 

When  the  Society  had  been  firmly  established  at  Economy, 
Pa.,  the  articles  of  association  were  renewed  and  signed  again 
by  the  members,  March  9,  1827.  To  this  agreement  there  is  a 
preamble,  which  states  that  the  community  had  been  formed 
on  the  principles  of  Christian  fellowship,  derived  from  the  Scrip- 
tures and  including  patriarchal  goverment,  and  community  of 
goods,  with  the  sole  object  of  fulfilling  the  will  of  God  so  far 
as  possible.  This  agreement  consists  of  six  articles,  containing 
the  same  provisions  as  the  previous  agreement,  but  stated  rather 
more  definitely.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  Articles  of  As- 
sociation, executed  at  Economy,  March  9th,  1827:* 

"Whereas,  By  the  favor  of  Divine  Providence,  an  associa- 
tion, or  community,  has  been  formed  by  George  Rapp  and  many 
others,  upon  the  basis  of  Christian  Fellowship,  the  principles  of 
which  being  faithfully  derived  from  the  sacred  Scriptures,  in- 
clude the  government  of  the  patriarchal  age,  united  to  the  com- 
munity of  property  adopted  in  the  days  of  the  apostles,  and 
wherein  the  single  object  sought  is  to  approximate,  so  far  as 
human  imperfection  may  allow,  to  the  fulfillment  of  the  will  of 
God,  by  the  exercises  of  those  affections,  and  the  practice  of 
those  virtues  which  are  essential  to  the  happiness  of  man  in  time 
and  throughout  eternity. 

And  whereas,  It  is  necessary  to  the  good  order  and  well- 
being  of  said  association  that  the  condition  of  membership  should 
be  clearly  understood,  and  that  the  rights,  and  privileges,  and 
duties  of  every  individual  therein,  should  be  so  defined  as  to  pre- 
vent mistake  or  disappointment  on  the  one  hand,  and  contention 
or  disagreement  on  the  other. 

Therefore,  Be  it  known  to  all  whom  it  may  concern :  That 
we,  the  undersigned,  citizens  of  Beaver  County,  in  the  Common- 
wealth  of   Pennsylvania,   do  severally  and   distinctly,   each   for 

♦Record,  Vol.  I,  p.  52. 


The  Harmony  Society.  13 

himself,  covenant,  grant,  and  agree  to  and  with  the  said  George 
Rapp,  and  his  associates,  as  follows,  to  wit: 

Article  1.  We,  the  undersigned,  for  ourselves,  our  heirs, 
executors  and  administrators,  do  hereby  give,  grant,  and  forever 
convey,  to  the  said  George  Rapp  and  his  associates,  and  their 
heirs  and  assigns,  all  our  property,  real,  personal  and  mixed, 
whether  it  be  lands  and  tenements,  goods  and  chattels,  money 
or  debts  due  to  us,  jointly  or  severally,  in  possession,  or  in  re- 
mainder, or  in  revision,  or  in  expectancy,  whatsoever  or  where- 
soever, without  evasion,  or  qualification,  or  reserve,  as  a  free 
gift  or  donation,  for  the  benefit  and  use  of  the  said  association 
or  community;  and  we  do  hereby  bind  ourselves,  our  heirs,  ex- 
ecutors and  administrators,  to  all  such  other  acts  as  may  be  nec- 
essary to  vest  a  perfect  title  to  the  same  in  the  said  association, 
and  to  place  the  said  property  at  the  full  disposal  of  the  superin- 
tendents of  the  said  community  without  delay. 

Article  2.  We  do  further^covenant  and  agree  to  and  with 
the  said  George  Rapp,  and  his  associates,  that  we  will  severally 
submit  faithfully  to  the  laws  and  regulations  of  the  said  com- 
munity, and  will  at  all  times  manifest  a  cheerful  and  ready  obedi- 
ence toward  those  who  are  or  may  be  appointed  as  superintend- 
ents thereof,  holding  ourselves  bound  to  promote  the  interests 
and  welfare  of  the  said  community,  not  only  by  the  labor  of 
our  own  hands,  but  also  by  that  of  our  children,  our  families  and 
others  who  are  now  or  hereafter  may  be  under  our  control. 

Article  3.  If,  contrary  to  our  expectations,  it  should  so 
happen  that  we  could  not  render  the  faithful  obedience  aforesaid, 
and  should  be  induced,  from  that  or  any  other  cause  to  withdraw 
from  the  said  association,  then  and  in  such  case  we  do  expressly 
covenant  and  agree  to  and  with  the  said  George  Rapp,  and  with 
his  associates,  that  we  will  never  claim  or  demand,  either  for  our- 
selves, our  children,  or  for  anyone  belonging  to  us,  directly  or 
indirectly,  any  compensation,  wages  or  reward  whatever,  for  our 
or  their  labor,  or  services  rendered  to  the  said  community,  or  to 
any  member  thereof ;  but  whatever  we  or  our  families  jointly  or 
severally  shall  or  may  do,  all  shall  be  held  and  considered  as  a 
voluntary  service  for  our  brethren. 

Article  4.     In  consideration  of  the  premises,  the  said  George 
Rapp,  and  his  associates,  do  by  these  presents,  adopt  the  under- 


14  The  Harmony  Society. 

signed,  jointly  and  severally,  as  members  of  the  said  community, 
whereby  each  of  them  obtains  the  privilege  of  being  present  at 
every  religious  meeting,  and  of  receiving,  not  only  for  them- 
selves, but  also  for  their  children  and  families,  all  such  instruc- 
tions in  church  and  schools  as  may  be  reasonably  required,  both 
for  their  temporal  good  and  for  their  eternal  felicity. 

Article  5.  The  said  George  Rapp  and  his  associates  further 
agree  to  supply  the  undersigned  severally  with  all  the  necessa- 
ries of  life,  as  clothing,  meat,  drink,  lodging,  etc.,  for  them- 
selves and  their  families ;  and  this  provision  is  not  only  limited 
to  their  days  of  health  and  strength/but  when  any  of  them 
shall  become  sick,  infirm,  or  otherwise  unfit  for  labor,  together 
with  such  medicine,  care  and  attendance  and  consolation  as 
their  situation  may  reasonably  demand.  And  if  at  any  time 
after  they  have  become  members  of  the  association,  the  father 
or  mother  of  a  family  should  die  or  be  otherwise  separated  from 
the  community,  and  shall  leave  their  family  behind,  such  family 
shall  not  be  left  orphans  or  destitute,  but  shall  partake  of  the 
same  rights  or  maintenance  as  before,  so  long  as  they  remain 
in  the  association,  as  well  in  sickness  as  in  health,  and  to  such 
extent  as  their  circumstances  may  require. 

Article  6.  And  if  it  should  happen  as  above  mentioned,  that 
any  of  the  undersigned  should  violate  his  or  her  agreement,  and 
would  or  could  not  submit  to  the  laws  and  regulations  of  the 
church  or  community,  and  for  that  or  any  other  reason  should 
withdraw  from  the  association,  then  the  said  George  Rapp,  and 
associates,  agree  to  refund  to  him  or  them  the  value  of  all  such 
property,  without  interest,  as  he  or  they  may  have  brought  into 
the  community  in  compliance  with  the  first  article  of  this  agree- 
ment, and  the  said  value  to  be  refunded  in  one,  two  or  three 
annual  installments,  as  the  said  George  Rapp  and  his  associates 
shall  determine.  And  if  the  person  or  persons  so  withdrawing 
themselves  were  poor,  and  brought  nothing  into  the  community, 
yet  if  they  depart  openly  and  regularly,  they  shall  receive  a  dona- 
tion in  money,  according  to  the  length  of  their  stay,  and  to  their 
conduct,  and  to  such  an  amount  as  their  necessities  may  require, 
in  the  judgment  of  the  superintendents  of  the  association. 

In  witness  whereof  and  in  testimony  that  the  undersigned 
have  become  members  of  the  said  community,  upon  the  condi- 


The  Harmony  Society.  15 

tions  aforesaid,  they  have  hereunto  severally  and  each  for  him- 
self set  their  hands  and  seals,  on  the  ninth  day  of  March  in  the 
year  1827." 

The  members  all  signed  the  agreement,  but  it  was  necessary 
for  George  Rapp  to  use  all  his  personal  and  spiritual  authority 
to  induce  some  of  them  to  do  so.  He  promised  that  those  who 
signed  should  have  their  names  written  in  the  Lamb's  Book  of 
Life,  and  threatened  that  the  names  of  those  who  did  not,  would 
be  expunged.* 

In  1835  the  administrator  of  the  estate  of  Peter  Schreiber, 
who  had  left  the  Society,  sued  for  property  claimed  for  him  as 
his  father's  heir.  The  suit  was  lost,  but  it  led  to  the  amendment 
of  the  articles  of  association.  Article  6,  of  the  agreement  of  1827, 
provided  that  withdrawing  members  should  receive  the  value 
of  the  property  they  had  contributed  on  joining.  This  was  now 
stated  to  be  out  of  harmony  with  the  principle  of  the  community 
of  goods  and  tending  to  implant  a  feeling  of  inequality.  Accord- 
ingly, three  additional  articles  were  added  to  the  original  agree- 
ment. Article  1  provided  that  the  aforesaid  6th  Article  be  en- 
tirely repealed,  while  all  the  others  should  remain  in  force.  Arti- 
cle 2,  That  all  the  property  of  the  Society  should  be  regarded  as 
common  indivisible  stock  and  that  each  member  should  be  re- 
garded as  having  absolutely  and  irrevocably  given  all  his  pro- 
perty to  the  Society.  Article  3  provided  that  no  member  who 
should  withdraw  from  the  Society,  nor  the  heir  of  a  member 
who  should  die,  should  have  any  claim  to  property  donated  to 
the  Society,  but  that  it  should  depend  entirely  on  the  decision 
of  the  superintendent  of  the  Society  how  much  money  should 
be  given  in  such  a  case.  These  additional  articles  were  signed 
by  the  members  on  the  31st  of  October,  1836.     They  are:* 

"Whereas,  The  Harmony  Society,  consisting  of  George 
Rapp  and  many  others,  now  established  in  the  town  of  Economy, 
in  Beaver  County,  Pennsylvania,  did,  on  the  9th  of  March,  1827, 
enter  into  certain  articles  of  association,  of  which  the  6th  in 
number,  is  as  follows,  viz : 

And  if  it  should  so  happen  as  above  mentioned,  that  any 
of  the  undersigned  should  violate  his  or  their  agreement,  and 


♦Justice  Gibson's  opinion,  Schreiber   vs.   Rapp. 
*Record   I,    p.    57. 


1 6  The  Harmony  Society. 

would,  or  could  not,  submit  to  the  laws  and  regulations  of  the 
church  or  community,  and  for  that  or  any  other  cause  should 
withdraw  from  this  association,  then  the  said  George  Rapp  and 
his  associates  agree  to  refund  to  him  or  them  the  value  of  all 
such  property  as  he  or  they  may  have  brought  into  the  commu- 
nity, in  compliance  with  the  first  article  of  this  agreement,  the 
said  value  to  be  refunded  without  interest,  in  one,  two  or  three 
annual  installments,  as  the  said  George  Rapp  and  his  associates 
shall  determine. 

And  if  any  person  or  persons  so  withdrawing  themselves 
were  poor,  and  brought  nothing  into  the  community,  yet  if  they 
depart  openly  and  regularly,  they  shall  receive  a  donation  in 
money,  according  to  the  length  of  their  stay  and  to  their  con- 
duct, and  to  such  amount  as  their  necessities  may  require  in  the 
judgment  of  the  superintendents  of  the  association. 

And  whereas,  The  provisions  of  the  said  6th  Article,  though 
assented  to  at  the  time,  manifestly  depart  from  the  great  princi- 
ple of  a  community  of  goods  and  may  tend  to  foster  and  per- 
petuate a  feeling  of  inequality  at  variance  with  the  true  spirit 
and  objects  of  the  association : 

And  whereas,  The  principle  of  restoration  of  property,  be- 
sides its  pernicious  tendency,  is  one  which  cannot  now  be  en- 
forced with  uniformity  and  fairness,  inasmuch  as  the  members 
of  the  association  in  the  year  1818,  under  a  solemn  conviction  of 
the  truth  of  what  is  above  recited,  did  destroy  all  record 
and  memorial  of  the  respective  contributions  up  to  that  time : 

And  whereas,  Continued  happiness  and  prosperity  of  the 
association,  and  a  more  intimate  knowledge  of  each  other  have  re- 
moved from  the  minds  of  all  members  the  least  apprehension 
of  injustice  and  bad  faith: 

Now,  therefore,  Be  it  known  by  these  presents,  that  the 
undersigned,  with  a  view  to  carry  out  fully  the  great  principles 
of  our  union,  and  in  consideration  of  the  benefits  to  be  derived 
therefrom,  do  hereby  solemnly  enter  into  covenant,  and  agree 
with  each  other  as  follows: 

1st.  The  said  6th  article  is  entirely  annulled  and  made  void, 
as  if  it  had  never  existed ;  all  others  remain  in  full  force  as  here- 
tofore. 

2d.     All  the  property  of  the  Society,     real,     personal  and 


The  Harmony  Society.  17 

mixed,  in  law  or  equity,  and  howsoever,  contributed  or  acquired, 
shall  be  deemed,  now  and  forever  joint  and  indivisible  stock. 
Each  individual  is  to  be  considered  to  have  finally  and  irrevoca- 
bly parted  with  all  his  former  contributions,  whether  in  land, 
goods,  money  or  labor ;  and  the  same  rule  shall  apply  to  all  fu- 
ture contributions  whatever  they  may  be. 

3d.  Should  any  individual  withdraw  from  the  Society,  or 
depart  this  life,  neither  he,  in  the  one  case  nor  his  representa- 
tives in  the  other,  shall  be  entitled  to  demand  an  account  of  said 
contributions,  whether  in  lands,  goods,  money  or  labor,  or  to 
claim  anything  from  the  Society  as  matter  of  right.  But  it  shall 
be  left  altogether  to  the  discretion  of  the  superintendent,  to  de- 
cide whether  any,  and  if  any,  what  allowance  shall  be  made  to 
such  member,  or  his  representatives  as  a  donation. 

Invoking  the  blessing  of  God  on  this  sacrifice  of  all  narrow 
and  selfish  feelings  to  the  true  purposes  of  the  association  and 
to  the  advancement  of  our  own  permanent  prosperity  and  happi- 
ness, we  have  signed  the  foregoing  instrument,  and  affixed  there- 
unto our  respective  seals,  at  Economy,  this  31st  day  of  October, 

1836." 

The  articles,  thus  amended,  placed  the  fortunes  of  the  mem- 
bers more  fully  in  the  hands  of  the  superintendents  of  the 
Society. 

Frederick  Rapp  died  in  1834.  Prior  to  his  death  he  had 
been  the  business  agent  of  the  Society,  transacting  all  its  external 
business.  The  property  of  the  Society  was  held  in  his  name. 
In  1825  he  had  signed  an  instrument  which  provided  that  all  pro- 
perty held  by  him  should  be  regarded  as  the  property  of  the 
Society.  After  his  death,  the  members  of  the  Society  executed, 
July  5,  1834,  a  power  of  attorney  to  George  Rapp,  making  him 
the  general  agent  of  the  Society,  and  granting  him  power  to 
appoint  substitutes  to  attend  to  its  temporal  affairs  for  him.  On 
the  same  day  he  appointed  Romelius  L.  Baker  and  Jacob  Henrici 
as  his  substitutes. 

Father  Rapp  in  spite  of  his  great  age,  still  remained  the 
real  directive  force  of  the  Society.  He  died  on  August  7,  1847, 
at  the  age  of  ninety.  His  death  necessitated  a  re-organization 
of  the  Society.  It  is  a  striking  proof  of  the  devotion  of  the  mem- 
bers to  the  principles  of  the  Society  and  of  their  satisfaction 


18  The  Harmony  Society. 

with  its  government  for  so  many  years  by  its  founder,  that  this 
re-organization  was  affected  without  difficulty,  and  that  the  busi- 
ness interests  of  the  Society,  which  were  now  of  great  magni- 
tude, were  conducted  successfully  for  many  years  along  the  lines 
laid  down  by  him. 

For  the  absolute,  though  just,  rule  of  the  patriarch  was 
substituted  a  more  representative  form  of  government.  After 
reciting  that  the  death  of  the  venerable  patriarch  and  beloved 
founder  and  leader  of  the  Society  had  made  necessary  the  agree- 
ment upon  the  plan  for  the  maintenance  of  the  Society  and  the 
conduct  of  its  affairs,  the  members  agreed  to  the  following 
articles : 

Article  i.  Reaffirmed  the  articles  of  association  as  adopted 
at  Economy,  March  9,  1827,  and  the  additional  articles  of 
October  31,  1836,  except  in  so  far  as  they  were  rendered  void  by 
the  death  of  George  Rapp  or  by  the  .following  agreement. 

,  Article  2.  A  council  of  elders  is  established  to  consist  of 
nine  members  of  the  Society.  The  nine  members  to  constitute 
the  council  are  named. 

Article  3.     The  duties  of  the  council  of  elders  are: 

1.  To  manage  the  internal  temporal  affairs  of  the  Society, 
to  appoint  and  depose  foremen  for  the  various  branches  of  busi- 
ness, and  to  see  that  the  members  of  the  Society  perform  the 
duties  imposed  on  them. 

2.  To  decide  disputes  between  the  members,  to  give  advice 
and  to  give  reproof  when  necessary. 

3.  To  receive  new  members  into  the  Society  and  to  expel 
members.  New  members  are  to  sign  the  articles  of  association 
as  a  proof  of  their  membership. 

4.  To  care  for  the  improvement  of  morals  and  instruction 
of  the  members. 

5.  To  appoint  one  or  more  of  the  members  as  religious 
teachers  and  leaders. 

6.  To  depose  a  member  of  the  council  of  elders  or  one  of 
the  trustees  and  to  appoint  another  instead. 

7.  To  fill  all  vacancies  in  the  council  of  elders  and  in  the 
office  of  trustee. 

8.  The  agreement  of  six  members  of  the  council  shall  be 
regarded  as  the  legal  action  of  the  whole  council. 


The  Harmony  Society.  19 

9.  To  keep  a  record  in  a  record  book  of  all  important  pro- 
ceedings. 

Article  4.  Provided  for  a  creation  of  a  council  of  trustees 
or  agents  for  the  exclusive  management  of  the  external  busi- 
ness and  affairs  of  the  Society;  this  council  to  consist  of  two 
persons,  who  must  be  members  of  the  council  of  elders.  R.  L. 
Baker  and  J.  Henrici  were  to  be  trustees. 

Article  5.  The  trustees,  united  and  separately  are  to  have 
power : 

1.  To  manage  all  business  of  the  Society. 

2.  To  make  donations  to  withdrawing  and  expelled  mem- 
bers and  for  such  charitable  and  philanthropic  purposes  as  they 
may  think  proper. 

3.  To,  united,  have  the  power  to  buy  and  sell  real  estate 
and  to  execute  deeds. 

4.  To  represent  the  Society  in  all  legal  matters. 

5.  To  have  authority  over  all  property  of  the  Society. 
Article  6.     All  property  acquired  by  the  trustees  shall  be 

regarded  as  the  common  property  of  the  Society. 

These  articles  in  full  are:* 

"Whereas,  By  the  decree  of  God,  the  venerable  patriarch 
and  much-beloved  founder  and  leader  of  the  Harmony  Society, 
George  Rapp,  has  departed  this  life,  whereby  its  members  are 
deprived  of  his  Christian  fellowship  and  religious  ministry,  and 
of  his  superintendence  in  their  temporal  affairs,  and  whereas  in 
consequence  of  this  deeply  afflicting  dispensation,  it  has  become 
necessary  to  the  good  order  and  well-being  of  the  association 
that  some  plan  should  be  agreed  upon  to  regulate  its  future  af- 
fairs, promote  its  general  welfare  and  preserve  and  maintain  it 
upon  its  original  basis. 

Therefore,  Be  it  known  to  all  whom  it  may  concern,  that 
we,  the  undersigned  surviving  members  of  the  Harmony  Society, 
and  constituting  the  same,  do  severally  and  distinctly  each  for 
himself  covenant,  grant  and  agree  to  and  with  all  the  others 
thereof,  and  with  those  who  shall  hereafter  become  members 
as  follows :  That  is  to  say : 


*Record  I,  p.  61. 


20  The  Harmony  Society. 

Article  i.  We  do  hereby  solemnly  recognize,  re-establish 
and  continue  the  articles  of  our  association  (the  sixth  section 
excepted)  entered  into  at  Harmony  on  the  9th  day  of  March, 
A.  D.,  1827,  in  the  presence  of  John  H.  Hopkins  and  Charles  L. 
Voltz,  and  the  supplement  thereto,  adopted  at  the  same  place 
on  the  31st  day.  of  October,  A.  D.,  1836,  in  the  presence  of 
Charles  L.  Voltz  and  William  F.  Baum,  except  so  far  as  the  same 
are  affected  by  the  death  of  said  George  Rapp,  or  hereinafter 
altered  or  modified,  and  to  this  extent  we  declare  the  said  arti- 
cles to  remain  in  full  force. 

Article  2.  We  hereby  ordain  and  establish  a  Board  of 
Elders,  which  shall  consist  of  nine  members  of  the  Harmony 
Society  and  their  successors,  to  be  chosen  as  hereinafter  pro- 
vided; John  Stahl,  John  Schaubel,  Adam  Nachtrieb,  Matthew 
Scholle,  Joseph  Hoerule,  John  Eberle,  Romelius  L.  Baker,  Jacob 
Henrici,  Jonathan  Lenz  shall  be  the  first  board. 

Article  3.  The  Board  of  Elders  shall  have  and  exercise  the 
following  powers,  to  wit : 

1st.  To  regulate  and  manage  exclusively  the  internal  temporal 
concerns  of  the  Harmony  Society ;  to  appoint  and  remove  superin- 
tendents in  the  several  departments  of  industry ;  to  make  regula- 
tions and  give  orders  in  relation  to  their  business  operations,  and 
generally  to  take  care  that  the  members  perform  the  duties  as- 
signed to  them. 

2d.  To  determine  all  disputes  and  misunderstandings 
amongst  the  members  of  the  Society ;  to  advise,  if  necessary,  re- 
prove any  member  who  may  be  in  fault  or  found  delinquent  in  his 
duty. 

3d.  To  admit  new  members  into  the  Society  and  to  expel 
them  therefrom.  New  members,  when  admitted,  shall  subscribe 
this  agreement  as  the  evidence  of  their  membership,  and  of  the 
rights  acquired  by,  and  the  duties  imposed  upon  them. 

4th.  To  establish  regulations  for  the  maintenance  and  im- 
provement of  the  morals  of  the  Society  and  for  the  instructions 
of  its  members. 

5th.  To  appoint  one  or  more  of  its  members  spiritual  lead- 
ers and  instructors  with  such  authority  in  relation  to  church 
discipline  as  shall  be  conferred  by  the  board. 


The  Harmony  Society.  21 

6th.  To  remove  from  the  Board  of  Elders  and  to  declare 
his  seat  vacated,  also  to  remove  from  office  either  or  both  of 
the  trustees  hereinafter  appointed  for  the  management  of  the 
external  affairs  and  their  successors  in  office. 

7th.  To  fill  all  vacancies  in  the  Board  of  Elders  occasioned 
by  the  death,  resignation  or  removal  from  office  of  any  of  its  mem- 
bers and  their  successors,  and  as  often  as  a  vacancy  shall  occur, 
to  fill  all  vacancies  in  the  office  of  trustee,  when  either  or  both 
of  the  trustees  or  their  successors  shall  die,  resign  his  office, 
or  be  removed  from  the  same,  and  as  often  as  a  vacancy  shall 
occur. 

8th.  The  concurrence  of  six  members  of  the  Board  of 
Elders  shall  be  deemed  the  act  of  the  Board  and  a  legal  exer- 
cise of  any  of  the  powers  hereinbefore  conferred  on  the  said 
board. 

9th.  A  record  book  shall  be  kept  in  which  the  Board  of 
Elders  shall  enter  all  proceedings  that  they  shall  consider  of 
sufficient  importance  to  be  preserved.  In  all  controversies,  judi- 
cial or  otherwise,  in  which  the  Society  or  any  of  its  members 
may  be  a  party,  such  record  shall  be  full  and  absolute  evidence 
of  the  facts  and  proceedings  therein  contained  and  the  affirma- 
tion of  any  Elder  shall  be  competent  evidence  of  the  identity  of 
the  said  record. 

Article  4.  We  do  further  ordain  and  establish  a  Board  of 
Trustees  for  the  exclusive  management  of  the  external  business 
and  affairs  of  the  Society,  which  board  shall  consist  of  two  per- 
sons, who  shall  be  members  of  the  Board  of  Elders,  and  their 
successors  who  shall  be  appointed  as  hereinbefore  provided. 
Romelius  L.  Baker  and  Jacob  Henrici  shall  be  the  first  Board  of 
Trustees. 

Article  5.  The  said  trustees  shall  jointly  and  severally 
have  and  exercise  the  powers  following,  to  wit : 

1st.  In  their  own  names  or  that  of  either  of  them,  or  other- 
wise, to  purchase  and  sell,  deal,  barter,  exchange  and  traffic, 
make  all  contracts  and  bargains  in  the  prosecution  of  the  busi- 
ness, to  invest  the  funds  in  stocks  and  other  securities,  and  make 
transfers  and  assignments,  to  collect  debts,  receive  and  pay  out 
moneys,  settle  claims,  compromise  disputes,  institute  legal  pro- 
ceedings, appoint  and   dismiss  agents,  clerks  and   attorneys  in 


22  The  Harmony  Society. 

fact,  and  at  law,  and  generally  to  transact  all  the  external  busi- 
ness affairs  of  the  Society. 

2d.  To  make  donations  to  seceding  and  excluded  members 
and  to  the  representatives  of  those  who  are  deceased  and  for 
such  benevolent  and  charitable  purposes  as  they  may  deem  pru- 
dent and  fit. 

3d.  The  said  trustees  shall  have  power  jointly  to  purchase 
real  estate  in  their  names  and  also  in  their  joint  names  to  grant, 
bargain,  sell  and  convey  all  or  any  of  the  lands  and  tenements 
now  or  hereafter  owned  by  or  belonging  to  the  said  Society, 
and  for  this  purpose  execute  deeds  and  conveyance  in  fee  sim- 
ple or  otherwise  in  their  joint  names,  but  the  proceeds  of  all 
such  sales  shall  be  held  in  trust  for  the  Society. 

4th.  For  the  purpose  of  providing  effectual  and  convenient 
remedy  in  law  for  all  injuries  to  the  property  of  the  said  So- 
ciety, real  and  personal,  by  trespass,  ouster,  detention,  conver- 
sion or  otherwise,  the  said  trustees  are  hereby  invested  with 
the  rights  of  possession,  entry  and  action  in  their  own  names 
as  fully  and  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  as  do  and  may  exist  in 
the  said  Society,  and  to  effectuate  this  object  more  completely 
and  in  consideration  thereof,  we  grant  and  transfer  to  the  said 
trustees  all  such  title  and  interest  in  the  said  property  as  shall 
be  necessary  therefor.  The  proceeds  of  all  suits  to  be  brought 
shall  be  in  trust  for  the  Society. 

5th.  The  powers  hereby  vested  in  the  said  trustees  shall 
extend  to  and  embrace  all  the  property  of  the  said  Society,  real, 
personal  and  mixed,  whether  standing  or  held  in  the  name  of 
the  late  Frederick  Rapp,  the  said  George  Rapp,  or  in  any  other 
name  or  form  whatsoever. 

Article  6.  It  is  hereby  distinctly  and  absolutely  declared 
and  provided  that  all  the  property,  real,  personal  and  mixed, 
which  now  or  hereafter  shall  be  held  or  acquired  by  any  trustee 
or  trustees  or  person  under  them,  is  and  shall  be  deemed  the 
common  property  of  said  Society,  and  each  trustee  now  or  here- 
after appointed,  hereby  disclaims  all  personal  interest  in  the 
present  resources  and  future  earnings  of  the  Society,  other  than 
that  of  a  member  thereof,  according  to  the  articles  of  association 
hereby  re-established  and  continued,  and  according  to  the  pres- 
ent agreement. 


The  Harmony  Society.  23 

In  Witness  Whereof,  Wre,  the  undersigned  members  of  the 
Harmony  Society,  who  constitute  the  said  Society,  have,  to 
these  articles  executed  in  English  and  in  German,  hereunto  set 
our  hands  and  seals  at  Economy,  in  Beaver  County,  this  12th  day 
of  August,  A.  D.,  1847." 

By  these  articles  the  government  of  the  Society  was  en- 
trusted to  the  two  trustees,  who  were  subject  to  removal  by  the 
Council  of  elders.  The  trustees  were  both  men  of  high  char- 
acter and  strong  personality,  who  worked  in  thorough  harmony. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  they  dominated  the  council  of  elders.  Both 
had  had  long  years  of  training  in  the  business  of  the  Society 
under  Father  Rapp,  Mr.  Baker,  from  the  foundation  of  the  So- 
ciety, Mr.  Henrici  from  1826.  Since  1834  they  had  been  the 
business  agents.  The  Society  was  governed  by  them  upon  the 
principles  already  so  thoroughly  established.  As  the  senior 
trustee,  Mr.  Baker,  and  after  his  death,  Mr.  Henrici,  was  also 
the  religious  teacher.  The  position  which  was  occupied  by  the 
trustees  was  very  similar  to  that  which  George  Rapp  had  held. 
Temporal  and  spiritual  authority  was  now  in  the  hands  of  two 
persons  instead  of  one  as  before.  While  the  members  of  the 
Society,  by  adopting  these  articles  had  entrusted  the  exclusive 
management  to  the  nine  members  of  the  council,  two  of  whom 
were  the  trustees,  matters  of  great  importance  were  submitted 
to  the  vote  of  the  whole  Society. 

Romelius  L.  Baker  and  Jacob  Henrici  as  trustees  managed 
the  Society  until  January  11,  1868,  when  Mr.  Baker  died.  Jona- 
than Lenz  was  appointed  trustee  in  Mr.  Baker's  stead.  Henrici 
and  Lenz  were  the  trustees  until  January  21,  1890,  when  Lenz 
died.  The  Board  of  Elders  then  appointed  Ernst  Wolf  el 
trustee. 

Mr.  Henrici  was  now  very  old.  It  was  rumored  that  the 
Society  was  financially  embarrassed.  Several  members  became 
dissatisfied  and  left.  Not  being  satisfied  with  the  donations 
given  them,  they  threatened  to  bring  suit  for  the  dissolution  of 
the  Society  and  division  of  its  property.  Under  these  circum- 
stances an  agreement  was  entered  into  by  the  members,  ratify- 
ing and  confirming  the  previous  articles  of  association. 

After  a  lengthy  preamble  describing  the  organization  of  the 


24  The  Harmony  Society. 

Society  under  the  articles  of  1847,  the  surviving  members  of 
the  Society  agree : 

1st.     That  the  articles  of  1847  are  in  full  force. 

2d.  All  acts  of  the  board  of  elders  since  that  time  are  ap- 
proved and  the  present  Board  of  Elders  is  confirmed. 

3d.  All  actions  of  the  board  of  trustees  are  confirmed  and 
approved. 

4th.     Appointment  of  Ernst  Wolfel  as  trustee  is  confirmed. 

This  agreement  is  :* 

"Be  it  known  to  whom  it  may  concern,  that  we,  the  under- 
signed, the  surviving  and  present  members  of  the  Harmony  So- 
ciety, at  Economy,  aforesaid,  and  all  the  present  members  of  the 
Society,  do  severally,  and  each  for  himself,  covenant,  grant  and 
agree  to  and  with  the  others,  and  each  and  all  the  other  mem- 
bers aforesaid,  and  signers  hereof  and  with  those  who  shall  here- 
after become  members  as  follows,  that  is  to  say : 

1  st.  We  do  hereby  solemnly  recognize,  approve,  reaffirm 
and  continue  the  articles  of  agreement  and  compact  of  the  Har- 
mony Society  entered  into  at  Economy,  on  the  12th  day  of 
August,  1847,  and  recorded  in  the  Recorder's  office  of  Beaver 
County,  as  set  forth  in  the  preamble  hereto  and  declare  the  same 
to  be  in  full  force,  as  a  whole  and  all  parts  thereof,  including  the 
agreements  and  compacts  mentioned  and  designated  in  the  first 
article  thereof,  as  fully  and  to  the  same  extent  as  said  men- 
tioned agreements  were  recognized  and  established  by  said  first 
article. 

2.  We  do  hereby  approve  and  confirm  any  and  all  acts, 
matters  and  things  done  and  transacted  by  the  Board  of  Elders 
of  the  Harmony  Society,  as  the  same  was  from  time  to  time 
constituted,  since  the  date  of  the  articles  aforesaid,  establishing 
said  board,  and  we  hereby  ratify  and  confirm  the  appointment 
of  the  present  Board  of  Elders,  to  wit:  Jacob  Henrici,  Ernst 
Wolfel,  Michael  Staib,  Johannes  Scheid,  Moritz  Frederick,  Gott- 
fried Lauppe,  Jacob  Niclaus,  Herman  Fishern  and  John  S.  Duss. 

3d.  We  do  also  hereby  approve,  ratify  and  confirm  all  acts, 
matters  and  things  done,  transacted  and  performed  by  the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  the  Harmony  Society,  constituted  first,  of  Rome- 


♦Record  I,  p.  71. 


The  Harmony  Society.  25 

lius  L.  Baker  and  Jacob  Henrici.  until  January  nth,  1868;  after- 
wards, and  from  that  date  until  January  21,  1890,  of  Jacob  Hen- 
rici and  Jonathan  Lenz,  and  since  the  last  mentioned  date,  of 
Jacob  Henrici  and  Ernst  Wolfel,  hereby  ratifying",  confirming, 
holding,  declaring  as  good  and  effectual  in  law  and  in  equity,  all 
acts,  matters  and  things  done,  transacted  and  performed  by  each 
and  all  of  said  trustees  in  the  purchase  and  sale  of  personal  pro- 
perty, and  in  the  making  of  contracts,  investments  of  funds,  pur- 
chase, sale  and  transfer  of  stocks,  bonds  and  other  securities, 
loaning  or  borrowing  money,  collection  and  payment  of  moneys, 
in  the  institution  and  prosecution  of  legal  proceedings,  in  the 
employment  and  discharge  of  attorneys  in  fact  and  at  law,  in 
the  making  of  donations,  in  the  purchase  of  real  estate,  and  in 
the  sale  thereof,  in  the  execution  and  delivery  of  deeds,  convey- 
ances, transfers  and  assignments,  whether  of  and  pertaining  to 
real  or  personal  property,  in  the  execution  or  delivery  of  notes 
or  obligations  of  any  kind,  and  generally  all  acts  heretofore  done 
by  said  trustees,  in  the  conducting,  managing  and  transacting 
of  the  business  of  the  Society,  and. whether  done  by  said  trus- 
tees or  either  of  them,  severally  and  in  his  own  name  as  trustee, 
or  jointly  in  the  joint  names  of  himself  and  his  co-trustee. 

4th.  We  do  also  hereby  approve  and  confirm  the  acts  of 
the  Board  of  Elders  in  the  appointment  of  Ernst  Wolfel,  as  co- 
trustee with  Jacob  Henrici  and  declare  said  Jacob  Hen- 
rici and  Ernst  Wolfel,  the  present  Board  of  Trus- 
tees, authorized  and  empowered  to  do,  perform  and 
transact  any  and  all  business  of  the  Society,  and  to  the  full  ex- 
tent of  the  powers  and  authorities  mentioned  and  designated  in 
and  conferred  on  the  Board  of  Trustees,  in  and  by  the  articles 
hereinbefore  mentioned,  made  and  entered  into  August  12th, 
1847,  and  recorded  as  aforesaid." 

The  troubles  of  the  Society  increased.  Mr.  Wolfel  died 
and  Mr.  John  S.  Duss  was  appointed  co-trustee  with  Mr.  Hen- 
rici. It  became  necessary  to  sell  some  of  their  land  and  to  bor- 
row some  money  to  meet  obligations.  In  December,  1892,  the 
articles  of  1847  and  1890  were  ratified  by  the  surviving  35  mem- 
bers. Explicit  powers  were  conferred  on  the  trustees  Henrici 
and  Duss  to  sell  all  lands  of  the  Societv,  to  borrow  such  sums 


26  The  Harmony  Society. 

of  money  as  they  might  deem  advisable,  and  to  execute  all  legal 
instruments,  jointly  or  separately.     This  agreement  in  full  is:* 

"Whereas,  The  undersigned,  being  all  the  members  of  the 
Harmony  Society,  at  Economy,  Beaver  County,  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania, deem  it  proper  and  desirable  that  there  should  be  some 
suitable,  proper  and  certain  evidence  of  membership  in  said 
Society,  and  that  the  rights  and  powers  of  said  Society  should 
be  more  clearly  defined  and  understood; 

Now  therefore,  While  we  do  hereby  ratify  and  confirm  the 
Articles  of  Agreement  entered  into  at  Economy  on  the  12th  day 
of  August,  1847,  and  those  of  April  30th,  1890,  confirmatory  of 
the  former  and  ratifying  the  acts  of  the  Boards  of  Elders  and 
Boards  of  Trustees,  both  of  which  Articles  of  Agreement  are 
recorded  in  the  Recorder's  Office  of  Beaver  County,  and  are 
hereby  reaffirmed,  we  and  each  of  us,  present  members  of  the 
said  Harmony  Society,  do  hereby  state  and  declare  that  this 
declaration,  agreement  and  grant  of  power  is,  and  is  to  be  taken 
and  considered,  as  supplementary  to  the  agreements,  compacts 
and  articles  above  mentioned,  to  wit: 

1st.  The  present  members  of  this  Society  and  association 
are  Jacob  Henrici,  John  S.  Duss,  J.  Jacob  Niclaus,  Moritz  J^ 
Fredericks,  Gottfried  Lauppe,  Johannes  Scheid,  Franz  Gillman, 
Hugo  Miller,  Conrad  Hermansdorfer,  Julius  Stickel,  Edward 
Killerman,  Henry  Feucht,  B.  Feucht,  Blasius  Platz,  Sigmund 
Stiefvater,  Regina  Lautenschlager,  Christina  Rail,  Karoline 
Molt,  Katharina  Nagel,  Elizabeth  Beck,  Lena  Rail,  Thirza 
Feucht,  Rebecca  Feucht,  Margareth  Feucht,  Christine  Horer, 
Susie  C.  Duss,  Bertha  Geratch,  Pauline  Stickel,  Johanna  Her- 
mansdorfer, Maria  Diem,  Dorothe  Hohr,  Philipina  L.  Wolf- 
angle,  Gottlieb  Riethmtiller,  Samuel  Sieber  and  Elizabeth  Sie- 
ber,  and  no  other  person  or  persons  than  those  above  named 
is  a  member  thereof,  and  that  for  the  future  it  is  agreed  that  be- 
fore any  person  can  become  a  member  of  the  Harmony  Society, 
he  or  she  shall  sign  or  make  his  or  her  mark  to  his  or  her  name 
on  the  roll  of  membership,  which  shall  always  be  kept  in  the  rec- 
ord book  of  the  Society,  which  book  was  established  by  the 
aforesaid  Agreement  of  1847,  and  is  the  same  in  which  are  en- 


*Record  I,  p.  74. 


The  Harmony  Society.  27 

tered  copies  of  said  articles  above  mentioned,  and  shall  also  sign 
a  written  agreement  in  said  book  binding  himself  or  herself  to 
the  observance  and  performance  of  all  and  singular  the  declara- 
tions, stipulations  and  agreements  of  the  members  of  the  Society 
as  contained  in  the  several  written  articles  above  mentioned  and 
in  these  articles,  and  the  book  aforesaid  containing  said  roll  of 
membership  shall  be  the  sole  and  exclusive  proof  of  member- 
ship in  the  Society. 

2d.  It  is  hereby  declared  and  agreed  that  the  present  Board 
of  Elders  of  said  Society  are  Jacob  Henrici,  John  S.  Duss,  Jo- 
hannes Scheid,  Gottfried  Lauppe,  Moritz  J.  Fredericks,  J.  Jacob 
Niclaus,  Conrad  Hermansdorfer,  Hugo  Miller  and  Gottlieb  Rieth- 
miiller;  and  the  present  Board  of  Trustees  of  said  Society  are 
Jacob  Henrici  and  John  S.  Duss.  And  we  do  hereby  grant  and 
assign  to  said  Trustees  and  their  successors,  and  do  hereby 
agree  and  declare  that  the  legal  title  to  any  and  all  the  property, 
real  and  personal,  owned  or  possessed  by  said  society,  wherever 
the  same  is  situated  or  found,  is,  and  is  to  be  taken  and  con- 
sidered as  fully  vested  in  said  Trustees,  Jacob  Henrici  and  John 
S.  Duss,  above  named,  and  held  by  them  in  trust  for  the  Society, 
but  with  full  and  complete  power  and  authority  in  said  Trustees, 
their  survivor  and  successors,  at  such  time  or  times  as  they  may 
deem  advisable,  and  for  the  best  interests  of  the  Society  to  sell 
and  dispose  of  same,  or  any  part  or  parcel  of  the  same,  and  for 
this  purpose  to  make  assignments  or  bills  of  sale  of  said  perso- 
nal estate,  and  to  execute  and  deliver  deeds  in  fee  simple,  or  for 
any  less  estate,  for  any  or  all  real  estate  thus  sold.  This  decla- 
ration and  power  to  apply  to  and  embrace  any  and  all  lands 
wherever  situated  now  or  hereafter  belonging  to  said  Harmony 
Society,  or  held  in  trust  for  said  Society,  the  title  to  which  may 
be,  or  stand,  in  the  name  of  Frederick  Rapp,  or  George  Rapp,  or 
of  R.  L.  Baker  and  Jacob  Henrici,  Trustees ;  Jacob  Henrici  and 
Jonathan  Lenz,  Trustees;  Jacob  Henrici  and  Ernst  Wolfel, 
Trustees ;  Jacob  Henrici  and  John  S.  Duss,  Trustees ;  or  any  or 
either  of  them  and  their  successors,  and  Board  of  Trustees 
hereafter  appointed. 

3d.  To  remove  any  possible  doubt  or  misunderstanding  as 
to  their  right  and  power  in  reference  thereto,  we  hereby  give 
and   grant  to   said   Trustees   above   named,   Jacob   Henrici   and 


28  The  Harmony  Society. 

John  S.  Duss,  and  to  either  of  them  and  their  survivor  and  suc- 
cessors, full  power,  from  time  to  time,  and  at  such  times  as  they 
or  either  of  them  may  deem  for  the  true  interest  of  the  Society 
to  borrow  such  sum  or  sums  of  money  for  such  length  of  time, 
at  such  rates  of  interest  and  upon  such  other  terms  as  the  said 
trustees,  or  either  of  them,  or  their  survivor  or  successors,  may 
deem  advisable ;  and  jointly  or  severally  to  give  notes,  bills  of 
exchange,  bonds,  due  bills  or  other  evidences  of  debt  therefor, 
and  to  secure  such  loan  or  loans  of  money,  bonds,  notes,  due 
bills  or  any  other  evidences  of  debt  by  pledge  or  assignment  of 
any  stocks,  bonds  or  other  personal  property  of  any  kind  now 
belonging,  or  that  may  hereafter  belong  to  said  Society,  and  by 
mortgage  or  mortgages  upon,  or  deeds  of  trust  of,  all  or  any 
part  of  the  real  estate  and  leaseholds  of  real  property,  which  said 
Society  now  own  or  possess,  or  hereafter  may  own  or  possess, 
and  for  this  purpose  the  said  Trustees,  above  named,  or  either 
of  them,  their  survivor  or  successors,  shall  have  full  power  and 
authority  to  make,  execute  and  deliver  any  and  all  such  instru- 
ments and  conveyances  as  may,  in  their  judgment,  be  reason- 
ably necessary  to  enable  them,  or  either  of  them,  to  carry  the 
foregoing  powers   into  full   effect. 

And  in  execution  of  any  instruments  or  conveyances  in 
writing  or  otherwise  that  may  be  or  so  become  reasonably  neces- 
sary in  the  exercise  or  execution  of  any  of  the  powers  hereinbe- 
fore granted,  either  of  said  Trustees,  their  survivor  or  successors 
may  execute  the  same,  and  for  that  pupose  may  sign  the  joint 
names  of  said  Trustees,  as  in  the  following  form :  "Jacob  Henrici 
and  John  S.  Duss,  Trustees,"  or  "Henrici  and  Duss,  Trustees," 
by  (name  of  Trustee  executing)  "Trustee." 

Mr.  Henrici  died  December  25th,  1892.  Mr.  Duss  became 
senior  Trustee,  and  on  December  27,  1892,  Samuel  Sieber  was 
appointed  his  colleague.  Mr.  Sieber  withdrew  July  6,  1893, 
from  the  Society,  and  then  Gottlieb  Riethmuller  became  junior 
Trustee.  Mr.  Riethmuller  died  February  10,  1897.  By  an 
agreement  entered  into  February  13,  1897,  Mr.  Duss,  the  sur- 
viving trustee,  was  made  sole  trustee  and  endowed  with  all  the 
powers  previously  conferred  on  the  Board  of  Trustees.  This 
article  is : 

"Whereas,  since   1847,  tne  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Har- 


The  Harmony  Society. 

mony  Society  has  consisted  of  two  members,  and  for  some  time- 
past  John  S.  Dnss  has  been  senior  Trustee  and  Gottlieb  Rieth- 
muller  has  been  junior  Trustee,  and 

Whereas,  The  said  Gottlieb  Riethmuller  died  on  the  tenth 
day  of  February,  A.  D.,  1897,  leaving  the  said  John  S.  Duss  as 
sole  surviving  Trustee. 

We,  the  undersigned,  being  all  the  members  of  and  consti- 
tuting the  Harmony  Society,  do  hereby  ratify  and  confirm  our 
Articles  of  Association  dated  August  12,  1847,  an(l  ^so  those 
dated  April  30,  1890,  and  those  dated  December  23,  1892,  ex- 
cept that  from  this  date  our  Board  of  Trustees  shall  consist  of 
one  member  only,  and  to  the  said  sole  Trustee,  for  the  time  be- 
ing, we  do  hereby  give,  grant,  convey  and  confer  each  and  every 
power,  privilege,  right  and  discretion,  and  also  all  the  property, 
real,  personal  and  mixed  heretofore  given,  granted,  conveyed 
to  or  conferred  upon  the  said  Board  of  Trustees  or  either  or  both 
of  the  said  Trustees  by  the  said  recited  agreements  of  1847,  1890 
and  1892,  or  which  in  any  way  whatever  may  have  been  ob- 
tained, or  procured  or  purchased  by  the  said  Trustees  or  either 
of  them  wrhile  acting  in  such  capacity.  Such  sole  Trustee  shall, 
however,  and  he  does  by  the  acceptance  of  the  office  of  Trustee, 
assume  the  duties,  trusts  and  obligations  imposed  upon  the  said 
Board  of  Trustees  by  the  said  recited  agreements. 

And  we  do  hereby  nominate  and  appoint  John  S.  Duss,  our 
present  senior  Trustee,  to  be   such  sole  Trustee. 

In  witness  whereof,  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  and 
seals  this  thirteenth  day  of  February,  A.  D.,   1897." 

(Signed  by  ten  members.) 

In  1894  suit  was  brought  against  the  Society  by  certain  per- 
sons who  demanded  its  dissolution.  After  years  of  litigation, 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  in  1902,  rejected  the 
suit,  deciding  in  the  favor  of  the  Society.  April  16,  1903,  the 
members  reaffirm  the  existence  of  the  Society  as  such,  ratify  all 
the  former  articles  of  agreement,  approve  of  the  acts  of  Mr.  Duss, 
as  Trustee,  and  provide  that  the  Board  of  Elders  shall  in  the 
future  consist  of  two  members  only.  This  agreement  is  as 
follows : 

"Whereas,  on  the  30th  day  of  April,  1890,  the  then  members 


30  The  Harmony  Society. 

of  the  Harmony  Society  executed  a  certain  article  of  agreement 
of  ratification  and  confirmation,  whereby  they  reaffirmed  and  re- 
adopted  the  contracts  of  membership  theretofore  existing  be- 
tween said  members,  and  which  fixed  the  rights  and  duties  and 
obligations  of  the  several  members  of  the  said  Society,  and  also 
ratifying  and  confirming  each  and  every  act,  matter  and  thing 
which  had  been  done  and  transacted  for  and  on  behalf  of  the 
said  Society  by  its  Board  of  Elders  and  by  its  Board  of  Trus- 
tees, as  the  said  several  boards  had  from  time  to  time  been  con- 
stituted prior  to  the  said  30th  day  of  April,  1890,  which  said 
article  of  agreement  is  recorded  in  the  office  for  recording  deeds, 
etc.,  for  the  County  of  Beaver,  in  Deed  Book,  Vol.  125,  page 
415,  and 

Whereas,  subsequently,  to  wit:  on  the  13th  day  of  February, 
1897,  by  reason  of  divers  changes  in  membership  and  the  deaths 
of  divers  members,  it  became  advisable  to  modify  said  Articles 
of  Agreement  so  that  the  powers,  rights  and  duties  theretofore 
vested  in  and  exercised  and  performed  by  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees, should  be  vested  in  a  sole  Trustee,  and  John  S.  Duss  was 
duly  declared  that  sole  Trustee;  and 

Whereas,  Since  the  execution  of  said  articles  of  ratification 
and  confirmation  on  the  30th  day  of  April,  1890,  the  said  Har- 
mony Society  has  been  involved  in  long  and  serious  litigation, 
which  has  terminated  under  a  decree  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  United  States  in  a  manner  favorable  to  and  upholding  the 
rights  of  the  said  Society,  and  during  that  period  by  reason  of 
said  litigation,  and  otherwise,  it  has  been  necessary  for  the 
Trustees  and  Trustee  to  negotiate  divers  sales  of  property,  real 
and  personal,  and  purchases  thereof,  and  to  borrow  divers  sums 
of  money  and  make  payment  thereof,  and  to  make  settlements 
with  divers  parties  sustaining  business  relations  with  said  So- 
ciety,  and 

Whereas,  By  reason  of  death,  the  membership  of  said  So- 
ciety has  been  reduced  to  eight  members,  viz :  Karoline  Molt, 
Katharine  Nagle,  Johanna  Hermansdorfer,  Christina  Rail,  Bar- 
bara Bosch,  Franz  Gillman,  John  S.  Duss  and  Susie  C.  Duss, 
wherefore  it  has  become  advisable  to  further  alter  and  add  to 
the  said  articles  of  agreement,  and 

Whereas,  There  have  been  read  over  and  fully  explained  to 


The  Harmony  Society.  31 

said  Harmony  Society,  and  each  of  its  members,  the  accounts  ^f 
the  said  John  S.  Duss,  as  Trustee,  from  the  time  of  his  appoint- 
ment to  this  date,  said  accounts  showing  on  their  face  all  the 
money  and  property  acquired  by  said  Duss,  as  Trustee,  and  all 
moneys  and  property  by  him  paid,  sold  out  or  conveyed;  and 
there  has  also  been  explained  and  made  fully  known  to  us  the 
present  financial  condition  of  said  Society,  and  what  its  assets 
and  property  consist  of,  and  what  its  debts  and  liabilities  are ; 

Xow,  therefore,  Be  it  known  to  whom  it  may  concern,  that 
we,  the  undersigned  and  surviving  and  present  members  of  the 
Harmony  Society,  do  severally  and  each  for  himself  or  herself 
covenant,  grant  and  agree  to  and  with  the  others  and  each  and 
all  of  the  others  as  aforesaid,  the  signers  thereof,  and  with  those 
who  shall  become  members  hereafter,  as  follows : 

1st.  We  do  hereby  expressly  affirm  and  declare  the  exist- 
ence of  the  Harmony  Society  as  a  society. 

2d.  We  do  hereby  approve,  ratify  and  confirm  each  and  all 
of  the  several  articles  of  agreement  and  compacts  heretofore 
executed  by  the  Harmony  Society,  including  that  executed  on 
the  13th  day  of  February,  1897,  excepting  the  sixth  clause  of  the 
article  of  agreement  executed  on  the  ninth  day  of  March,  A.  D., 
1827  (the  said  sixth  clause  having  been  annulled  and  abrogated 
by  an  agreement  executed  on  the  thirty-first  day  of  October, 
1836),  and  we  do  declare  that  the  said  several  agreements  (ex- 
cepting the  said  sixth  clause)  are  in  full  force  and  effect  and  con- 
stitute the  contract  of  membership  by  which  the  several  rights, 
duties  and  obligations  of  the  members  of  our  Society  are  to  be 
determined,  except  in  so  far  as  the  said  articles  are  hereinafter 
modified. 

3d.  We  do  hereby  approve,  ratify  and  confirm  any  and  all 
acts,  matters  and  things  done  and  transacted  by  the  Board  of 
Elders,  as  the  same  has  been  constituted  prior  to  the  date  hereof, 
whether  the  said  Board  has  consisted  at  any  time  of  the  entire 
number  of  members  fixed  by  the  several  articles  of  agreement 
herein  above  ratified  and  confirmed  or  of  a  less  number. 

4th.  We  do  hereby  approve,  ratify  and  confirm  each  and 
all  of  the  acts,  matters  and  things  done  and  transacted  and  per- 
formed by  the  Board  of  rustees,  as  the  same  was  constituted 
prior  to  the  13th  day  of  February,  1897,  and  as  the  same  has 


32  The  Harmony  Society. 

been  constituted  since  that  date,  consisting  of  John  S.  Duss,  as 
sole  Trustee,  and  including  herein  all  matters  directly  or  indi- 
rectly connected  with  the  litigation  of  the  Society,  the  adjust- 
ment and  settlement  of  its  several  liabiliies  growing  out  of  any 
business  transaction  or  business  enterprises  in  which  the  said 
Society  has  at  any  time  been  interested.  And  we  further  ratify, 
approve  and  confirm  in  every  respect,  all  the  items  and  the 
whole  of  the  said  accounts  of  the  said  John  S.  Duss,  Trustee, 
and  each  and  every  act  of  his  in  reference  to  the  assets,  properly 
and  business  of  the  Society. 

5th.  From  and  after  the  execution  hereof  the  Board  of 
Elders  of  the  Harmony  Society  shall  consist  of  two  members 
and  their  successors  chosen  in  the  manner  provided  by  the  arti- 
cles of  agreement  hereinbefore  ratified  and  approved,  and  from 
and  after  the  date  hereof  the  said  Board  of  Elders  shall  be  John 
S.  Duss  and  Franz  Gillman. 

In  witness  whereof,  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  and 
seals  this  16th  day  of  April,  A.  D.,  1903,  as  members  of  and  con- 
stituting said  Harmony  Society,  and  also  as  the  members  of  and 
constituting  the  Board  of  Elders  of  said  Society." 

(Signed  by  eight  members.) 

May  12,  1903,  Mr.  Duss,  the  sole  trustee,  resigned  his  office 
and  withdrew  from  the  Society.  The  same  day  his  wife,  Mrs. 
Susie  C.  Duss,  was  chosen  sole  trustee  in  his  stead.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  Society,  now  only  four  in  number,  made  the  following 
agreement : 

"Whereas,  on  the  twelfth  day  of  May,  1903,  John  S.  Duss, 
sole  Trustee  of  the  Harmony  Society,  at  Economy,  did  resign 
his  trust,  which  resignation  was  duly  accepted,  he  having  on  the 
same  day  withdrawn  from  fellowship  in  said  Society,  whereupon, 
upon  due  consideration,  and  in  pursuance  of  the  power  in  them 
vested,  the  Board  of  Elders  did  constitute  Susie  C.  Duss  the  suc- 
cessor in  trust  of  the  said  John  S.  Duss,  as  sole  Trustee  of  the 
said  Harmony  Society,  at  Economy,  and  it  is  proper  that  suffic- 
ient evidence  of  such  appointment  and  of  the  acceptance  of  the 
trust  thereunder  be  entered  of  record  in  the  office  of  the  Re- 
corder of  Deeds  in  and  for  said  County  of  Beaver,   in  which 


A  MEMBER  OF  THE  HARMONY  SOCIETY. 


The  Harmony  Society.  33 

County  most  of  the  lands  of  said  Society  are  situate,  and  in  such 
other  places  as  the  business  of  the  Society  may  require. 

Now,  therefore,  It  is  hereby  witnessed  that  Franz  Gillman 
and  Susie  C.  Duss,  the  now  members  of  the  Board  of  Elders  of 
the  Harmony  Society,  in  pursuance  of  the  power  in  them  vested 
by  and  under  the  several  agreements  and  contracts  existing  be- 
tween the  members  of  said  Society,  do  hereby  make,  constitute 
and  appoint  Susie  C.  Duss,  a  member  of  said  Society  and  of  the 
Board  of  Elders,  sole  Trustee  of  the  said  Society. 

To  have,  hold  and  exercise  all  the  rights  and  powers  con- 
ferred and  to  discharge  and  perform  all  and  singular  the  duties 
imposed  upon  and  required  of  such  sole  Trustee  in  and  by  the 
several  articles  of  association  and  compacts  of  the  members  of 
said  Society,  as  executed  and  adopted  by  them  and  recorded  in 
the  Recorder's  office  of  Beaver  County. 

And  Christina  Schonemann  Rail  and  Barbara  Bosch,  who, 
with  the  said  Franz  Gillman  and  Susie  C.  Duss,  are  the  now 
members  of  said  Society  and  constitute  the  same,  do  hereby 
unite  herein  for  the  purpose  of  signifying  their  approval  of  the 
appointment  of  the  said  Susie  C.  Duss  as  hereinabove  set 
forth. 

In  witness  whereof,  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  and 
seals  this  twelfth  day  of  May,  A.  D.,  1903." 

(Four  signatures.) 

The  members  of  the  Society  numbered  in 

1814 421 

1815  419 

1827 522 

1832 357 

1834 403 

1836 391 

1844,    170   men   and   215    women,  385 

1846 321 

1847 288 

1864 170 

1865  155 

1866 146 

1879 /o 


36  The  Harmony  Society. 

„Heute,  den  9.  Februar  1853,  habe  ich  mich  der  Harmonie 
Gesellschaft  freiwillig  entzogen,  und  habe  aufgehort  ein  Mitglied 
davon  zu  sein.  Ich  habe  auch  von  R.  L.  Baker,  Trustee,  erhalten 
$50  in  Geld,  nebst  Bett  und  Kleider  und  Kleiderschrank  usw. 
als  cin  Geschenk  laut  dem  Kontrakt,  welches  in  voll  ist  fur  alle 
Anspriiche,  an  besagte  Gesellschaft  oder  einiges  Mitglied  davon, 
es  sei  an  Geld  oder  Gtiter." 

LENA  RALL. 

In  many  cases  these  persons  were  admitted  to  the  Society 
again,  perhaps  after  raising  a  family.     Lena  Rail  returned. 

The  Society  also  took  boys  and  girls  as  apprentices,  keeping 
them  until  they  were  of  age,  teaching  them  a  trade  and  giving 
them  an  education.  Such  apprentices  were  bound  by  regular 
articles. 

On  becoming  of  age,  each  boy  was  given  $200,  and  each 
girl  $100. 


MANUSCRIPT    HYMN    BOOK. 


37 


CHAPTER  II 


Moral  and   Religious   Views. 

The  Harmonists  had  left  Germany  to  escape  religious  perse- 
cution. The  sufferings  they  had  endured  and  the  privations  of 
the  long  journey  to  their  new  home,  had  intensified  their  religious 
feelings.  United  in  a  strange  land  under  their  old  pastor,  re- 
ligion and  brotherly  love  were  the  controlling  motives  of  their 
lives.  After  a  day  of  work  in  clearing  the  forest  and  building 
their  town,  the  new  settlers  always  assembled  in  the  evening  in 
the  house  and  yard  of  their  pastor  for  prayers  before  going  to 
bed.* 

They  believed  that  they  had  formed  their  Society  under  the 
special  guidance  of  God,  whose  kingdom  was  near  at  hand,  and 
that  life  in  their  Society,  as  they  planned  it,  was  the  best  prepa- 
ration for  this  kingdom.  From  their  life  of  brotherly  harmony 
to  the  kingdom  of  Christ  would  be  an  easy  transition.  There- 
fore they  sacrificed  all  selfish  interests  to  the  welfare  of  the 
whole,  each  devoting  himself  to  the  service  of  the  others. 
George  Rapp  had  a  sublime  faith  in  the  importance  of  the  move- 
ment which  he  had  inaugurated.  March  24,  1810,  he  wrote  to 
Frederick  Rapp : 

„Werde  nicht  verdriesslich  und  ohngelassen  der  Gemeinde 
zu  dienen ;  es  werden  dir  wohl  manche  ungereimte  Dinge  in  Weg 
kommen,  aber  du  kannst  viel  tragen  um  der  Hoffnung  des  Reichs 


•Georgre  Rapp  to  Frederick  Rapp,   September  4,  1805. 


38  The  Harmony  Society. 

Gottes  willen.  Glaube  es,  wir  sind  zu  nichts  anders  bestimmt 
als  der  Gemeine  zu  dienen,  und  das  all  unser  Lebtag,  das  End  vor 
unsern  Ordensmeister  macht  dir  alles  leicht.  Ich  bin  alle  Tage 
gewisser  der  grossen  Bestimmung  des  Plans  vom  Reich  Gottes 
in  unserm  Zeitpunkt;  der  Spiritus  Mundi  hatte  uns  lange  unter 
sich,  und  hielt  uns  arm  und  gering  genug,  wir  werden  durch  die 
Gunst  Gottes  Herr  iiber  dies  Alles.  Gott  ist  mit  uns,  und 
Christus  hat  uns  lieb,  der  Himmel  wtirkt  mit  uns,  ich  bin  munter 
in  meinem  Gemuthe,  und  bin  heiter." 

Their  desire  to  serve  others  was  not  limited  to  the  members 
of  their  Society.  They  wished  to  be  useful  to  mankind.  January 
23,  1879,  Frederick  Rapp  wrote: 

"The  progress  of  our  improvement  is  such  as  becomes  peo- 
ple who  wish  to  be  useful  to  mankind,  and  join  their  efforts  to 
make  one  another  happy,  and  all  those  who  wish  to  partake  of 
their  felicity." 

At  the  same  time  they  were  striving  for  a  purer  personal 
life.  Newly  arrived  German  immigrants  they  found  tainted  with 
immorality  of  the  kinds  prevailing  in  Germany.  George  Rapp 
writes : 

„Ich  wiinsche  keineswegs  in  Zukunft  mehr  Leute  von  Eu- 
ropa  hieher  zu  bringen.     Sie  sind  alle  zu  verdorben."* 

Animated  by  this  spirit  of  pure  religion  and  self-sacrifice, 
and  working  obediently  under  the  wise  direction  of  their  superin- 
tendents, George  and  Frederick  Rapp,  the  Society  increased 
rapidly  in  wealth  and  harmony.  May  29,  1823,  Frederick  Rapp 
could  write  to  Samuel  Patterson : 

"My  father  well  and  active,  although  advanced  in  years. 
The  Society  is  prosp»ering  externally  and  internally.  We  live  in 
peace  and  unity  which  gradually  binds  us  faster  and  faster  into 
one  body,  whereof  one  member  renders  to  another  the  necessary 
assistance,  which  facilitates  the  toils  of  life  in  great  measure." 

Their   leader,   too,   was   satisfied   with   the   conduct   of  the 

members: 

„Es  geht  hier,  wie  gewonlich,  alles  seinen  Gang,  und  das 

*  George  Rapp,  April  10,  1819,  in  a  letter  to  J.  Boiler. 


The  Harmony  Society.  39 

Reich  des  Friedcns  nimmt  seincn  Weg  zum  grossen  Ziel,  alles 
ist  thatig  hier,  jedes  erfiillt  seine  Pflichten,  dass  ich  nicht  zu 
klagen  habe."* 

In  a  letter  written  to  his  community  from  Economy,  June 
7,  1824,  where  George  Rapp  was  founding  a  new  settlement,  he 
urges  his  followers  to  devotion  to  the  welfare  of  the  whole,  as 
the  most  essential  of  all  duties.  He  had  just  landed  at  Economy, 
which  he  said  was  „der  gesundeste  Platz  in  ganz  Amerika." 

„Was  wir  thun,  das  thun  wir  fur  euch,  und  was  ihr  thut,  das 
thut  ihr  fiir  uns,  also  sollte  man  denken,  die  Liebeswerke  zu  iiben 
fur  das  Beste  und  Wohl  zum  ganzen  Bruderverein  konnte  un- 
moglich  lange  Weile  oder  Ungeduld  verursachen. 

Alles  also  wird  gut  gehen  bei  uns  und  euch  so  lange  Interesse 
fiir  das  Ganze  lebt,  denn  dem  redlichen  in  seinem  Fach  vergibt 
der  Herr  tausend  Uebertretungen,  und  so  verliert  man  niemals 
die  Bruderliebe,  also  auch  nicht  Gott ;  und  so  ritteriert  euch  vor 
den  Versuchungen  des  Feindes  und  der  Welt,  dass  ein  jeder  von 
euch  seinen  Pfosten  bewacht  und  erhalt,  bei  dem  ich  euch  ver- 
lassen  habe,  bei  meinem  Abschied,  damit  meine  Freude  an  euch 
keinen  Abbruch  leide,  sondern  mit  freudigem  Geist,  euch  vor 
das  Angesicht  Jesu  Christi  tragen  darf  in  meinem  Gebet,  und 
mit  Danksagung  der  Barmherzigkeit  Gottes  des  Vaters  seinen 
Namen  verherrlichen  darf,  indem  das  Gnadenwerk  des  heiligen 
Geistes  sich  taglich  beweiset  an  seiner  Gemeine  ;  die  er  fiir  ihn 
selbst  aus  der  Welt  erwahlt,  seinen  grossen  Namen  an  ihr  zu 
verherrlichen,  darzu  wir  alle  bereitwillig  sind,  dass  sein  Wille 
geschehe  auf  Erden  wie  im  Himmel." 

The  Harmony  Society  was  not,  and  never  became,  a  pro- 
selyting society.  Religious  principles  were  expounded  and  taught 
to  them  by  their  pastor.  The  only  way  in  which  they  sought  to 
influence  the  outside  world  was  by  an  industrious,  unselfish  life, 
consistent  with  the  principles  they  professed.  But  the  success 
of  their  enterprise  attracted  the  attention  of  persons  who  were  in- 
terested in  communistic  societies.  In  answer  to  an  inquiry  from 
Samuel  Worcester,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  George  and  Frederick  Rapp 
gave  an  account  of  the  state  of  the  Society  and  its  principles  and 
practices.     This  important  letter  in  full  is : 

*  George  Rapp  to  Frederick  Rapp,  April  18,  1823. 


40  The  Harmony  Society. 

Harmonie,  den  9.  Oktober  1822. 
SAMUEL  WORCESTER: 
Werther  Herr: 

Ihr  Schreiben  vom  letzten  23ten  May  ist  schon  vor  geraumer 
Zeit  zu  handen  kommen,  aus  vvelchem  wir  ersehen  dass  unsere 
Gemeinschaft  mehrere  Ihrer  Mitburger  aufmerksam  gemacht, 
tind  den  Wunsch  erregt  hat,  mehrere  solche  Gesellschaften  nach 
■dem  Plan  der  hiesigen  errichtet  zu  sehen  usf.,  hauptsachlich  aber 
zu  wissen  wunschen,  ob  noch  die  nemliche  Einigkeit  unter  uns 
exestiere,  wie  vor  zwolf  Jahr,  da  Mr.  Melish,  von  Philadelphia, 
uns  in  Pennsylvania  besuchte. 

Ueber  welches  Sie  berichte,  dass  es  uns  freut  zu  vernehmen, 
dass  noch  Leute  in  Ihrer  Stadt  und  besonders  in  Ihrer  Gesell- 
schaft  gefunden  werden,  welche  iiber  den  Zustand  der  jetzigen 
Welt  mit  alien  darin  befindlichen  politischen  sowohl  als  reli- 
giosen  Gesellschaften  nachdenken,  und  ohne  Zweifel  sehen  wer- 
den, dass  dieser  Zeitpunkt  alles  in  seiner  Grundveste  erschiittert 
hat;  wie  alle  Konigreiche  und  Staaten  zittern  und  beben;  auch 
alle  religiosen  Gesellschaften,  Sekten  und  Parteien  keinen  vesten 
Halt  auf  ihren  alten  Systemen  und  Formen,  nach  welchen  sie 
sich  gebildet,  mehr  haben ;  und  wie  im  ganzen  das  moralische 
und  Sittenverderben  in  alien  Standen  so  tief  eingedrungen,  dass 
die  mehreste  Menschen  gesetz-  und  gewissenlos  worden  sind, 
und  noch  nach  ausserer  Ordnung,  noch  nach  Ausiibung  der  wah- 
ren  Christlichen  Religion  etwas  fragen,  (ob  sie  gleich  jederzeit 
die  besten  Menschen  gebildet  hat),  sondern  iiberlassen  sich  den 
Trieben  ihrer  Wolliisten,  welche  die  Grenzen  ihrer  Bediirfnisse 
schon  lange  uberschritten  haben,  und  doch  nicht  gesattigt  sind, 
sonst  ware  nicht  so  viel  Klagens  fast  bei  alien  Klassen  der  Men- 
schen, iiber  harte  Zeit,  Geldmangel  und  dergleichen. 

Von  alien  diesen  Uebeln  und  Plagen  weist  die  Harmonie 
nichts ;  sie  hat  schon  vor  achtzehn  Jahren  den  Grund  und  Bo- 
den  zu  einer  neuen  Zeitperiode  gelegt,  und  zwar  nach  der 
Originalmuster  der  ersten  Kirche  nach  Apostel-Geschichte  am 
2ten  und  4ten  Kap.,  und  unterdessen  haben  wir,  obwohl  unbe- 
kannt  und  mit  Schmach  und  Verachtung  bedeckt,  dennoch 
gliicklich  und  in  Frieden  gelebt,  denn  unsere  Einigkeit  sowohl 
leiblich  als  geistlich  ist  alle  Jahr  volliger  worden ;  so  dass  gegen- 


The  Harmony  Society.  41 

wartig  unsere  Gemeinschafc  als  erprobt  auf  ihrem  Felsen  der 
Wahrheit  fest  und  unerschi'itterlich  steht ;  denn  die  Welt  und 
Holle  wird  wenig  Mittel  mehr  flbrig  haben,  die  sie  nicht  schon 
an  der  Harmonie  versucht  haben,  doch  steht  sie  noch  und  wird 
sich  auch  wohl  behaupten ;  denn  die  Starke  des  Glaubens,  die  bis 
ins  Geistesreich  eindringt,  wird  wohl  auch  den  erreichen,  dem 
alle  Gewalt  gegeben  ist  im  Himmel  und  auf  Erden.  Er  wird  ge- 
wiss  Interesse  genug  haben,  die  Anstalten  seines  so  nahen  Konig- 
reichs  zu  befordern,  wo  er  Leuthe  dazu  findet,  und  davon  ist  die 
Harmonie  in  einem  grossen  Grade  eingenommen,  denn  die  Zei- 
chen  der  Zeit,  darauf  uns  die  Schrift  weiset,  lassen  uns  genug 
ahnden  dass  die  Zukunft  des  Herrn  nicht  mehr  fern  ist.  Auch 
in  weltlicher  Hinsicht  ist  unser  Fleiss  und  Arbeit  reichlich  ge- 
segnet ;  wir  haben  in  nichts  Mangel,  wir  bauen  und  pflanzen  aller 
Arten  Friichten  im  Ueberfluss,  unsere  Obstgarten,  welche  mit 
den  besten  Gattungen  aller  Arten  Baumen  besetzt,  sind  sehr  er- 
giebig;  fur  Weinbau  ist  es  hier  noch  etwas  besser  als  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, doch  bei  weitem  nicht  wie  in  den  alten  Landern  ;  auch  fiir 
Kleider  und  sonstige  Bediirfnisse  bauen  und  pflanzen  wir  die 
mehreste  der  rohen  Materialen,  als  Flax,  Hanf,  Wolle  und  Baum- 
wolle.  und  fabrizieren  es  zu  mancherlei  Arten  StofT,  so  wie  das 
Klima  in  dieser  Landschaft  erfordert,  so  dass  wir  lauter  selbst- 
gemachte  Kleider  tragen,  und  nichts  vom  Ausland  brauchen. 
Unsere  Manufakturen  und  Machineries  sind  um  ein  betracht- 
liches  vermehrt  worden,  seitdem  Mr.  Melish  bei  uns  war,  nur 
schade  dass  die  mehreste  Amerikaner  so  wenig  Nationalgeist 
haben,  und  auslandische  YVaaren  denen  heimgemachten  vor- 
ziehen. 

Wir  konnen  Sie  weder  auf  ein  Buch  verweisen  noch  ein 
Pamphlet  schicken,  welches  Xachricht  von  uns  und  unseren 
Grundsatzen  und  Einrichtungen  gabe,  indem  wir  weder  eine 
Constitution  noch  sonstige  Gesetzformeln  fiir  die  Organisirung 
unserer  Gesellschaft  weder  geschrieben  noch  gedruckt  haben,  son- 
dern  fanden  bloss  fiir  notig  mit  Neukommenden  eine  Art  Agree- 
ment zu  machen,  damit  sie  uns  (im  Falle  sie  die  gegebene  Probe- 
zeit  nicht  bestehen,  oder  hernach,  wenn  sie  in  die  Gemeine  auf- 
genommen,  sich  nicht  zu  einem  christlichen  Wandel  bilden  lassen 


A2  The  Harmony  Society. 

und  deshalb  wieder  abziehen),  keinen  Trubel  fur  Lohn,  oder 
sonstige  Ausbriiche  machen  konnen. 

In  einer  religiosen  Gesellschaft,  wie  die  Harmonie,  ist  es 
leicht,  Verbrechen  zu  bestrafen ;  es  erfodert  aber  hauptsachlich 
einen  Mann  als  Vorsteher,  welcher  der  Religion  Jesu  redlich  und 
mit  voller  Warme  zugethan  ist,  der  Gewicht  und  Geist  genug 
hat  andere  zu  begeistern,  und  ein  zartes  Gefuhl  Recht  und  Un- 
recht  zu  unterscheiden,  um  der  Wahrheit  den  Beifall  und  das 
Uebergewicht  zu  geben,  und  weil  der  moralische  Werth  von 
Recht  und  Unrecht  schon  jedem  Menschen  in  seiner  Schopfung 
eingepflanzt  worden,  so  ist  weiter  nichts  zu  thun,  als  das  innere 
Gefuhl  zu  oflnen  und  often  zu  halten ;  so  gibt  es  sich  von  selbst, 
dass  diejenigen,  welche  des  Lichtes  fahig  sind,  selbst  der  Tugend 
und  eines  gottseligen  Wandels  sich  bestreben,  und  wenn  sie  aus 
Unvorsichtigkeit  gegen  die  Wahrheit  handeln  und  Siinden  oder 
Irrthiimer  begehen,  so  schamen  sie  sich  selbst  und  bekennen  es 
dem  Vorsteher,  widerrufen  und  b,ereuen  es  innerlich,  und  be- 
fleissigen  sich  der  Besserung,  und  werden  nach  und  nach  gut; 
und  die  anderen,  welche  des  Lichts  und  der  Wahrheit  nicht  fahig 
sind,  die  verstecken  und  verbergen  ihre  Siinden  und  Verbrechen, 
und  gehen  nicht  selber  an  das  Licht,  und  wenn  sie  von  anderen 
entdeckt  und  ihre  bose  Werke  bestraft  werden,  so  werden  sie 
bos  und  werden  es  nicht  leiden,  und  weil  kein  Heuchler  hier  be- 
stehen  kann,  so  entfernen  sie  sich  selbst  von  der  Gemeinde,  bal- 
der oder  spater,  und  fliehen  in  die  grosse.  Welt,  wo  ihre  bose 
Werke  nicht  bestraft  werden ;  und  auf  diese  Art  bleibt  unsere  Ge- 
meinde lauter,  ohne  dass  wir  Zwang  oder  Strenge  brauchen,  son- 
dern  wird  alles  christlich  regirt  und  betrieben,  nach  der  Ord- 
nung  Melchisedeks.  Und  wir  glauben  auch  gewiss,  dass  das 
nahe  ,einbrechende  Reich  Jesu  Christi  eben  so  und  nicht  anders 
regirt  und  fortgefiihrt  werden  wird,  sowohl  hier  auf  Erden  als 
auch  im  Geisterreich,  und  zwar  alles  menschlich,  bis  kein  Wahr- 
heits-  und  Jesus-Feind  mehr  sein  wird,  welches  uns  die  Schriften 
Alten  und  Neuen  Testaments  hinlanglich  sagen,  sowie  auch 
manche  andere  Wahrheitszeugen,  davon  auch  Schwedenborg 
einer  ist,  welches  es  in  seiner  Schriften  mehrmals  bezeugte. 

Es  ist  in  unserer  Gemeinde  nicht  schwer  dem  Miissigang  vor- 
zubeugen,  obglei  :h  die  Menschen  (wie  Sie  sagen)  mehr  aus  Noth- 


The  Harmony  Society.  43 

wendigkeit  und  Eigennutzen  arbeiten,  als  aus  Freiheit  und  ge- 
meinschaftlichem  Interesse  willen  ;  dieses  sind  aber  Folgen  unse- 
res  Falles,  welche  wir  von  unseren  Stammeltern  angeerbt  und 
unterdessen  noch  vermehrt  haben.  Von  Anfang  wurde  der 
Mensch  zur  Thatigkeit  und  gesellschaftlichem  Leben  geschaffen, 
um  fiir  das  Wohl  und  Gliickseligkeit  seiner  Mitgeschopfte  zu 
wiirken,  zu  welchem  Zwecke  auch  alle  gute  Engel  und  Geister 
durch  das  ganze  Geisterreich  wirksam  und  thatig  sind  ;  welches 
Schwedenborg  in  seinen  Schriften  hinlanglich  bestatigt.  Dieser 
Grundtrieb  liegt  noch  in  des  Menschen  Wesen,  und  so  bald,  wie 
oben  gesagt,  die  innern  Gefiihle  durch  das  Licht  der  Wahrheit 
mittel-  oder  unmittelbar  aufgeschlossen  werden,  so  erwacht  auch 
dieser  Trieb  zur  Thatigkeit  und  gemeinschaftlichem  Leben  mit 
auf,  und  weil  hier  in  der  Harmonie  lauter  solche  Leute  sind, 
welche  fiir  das  Reich  Gottes  erzogen  und  bereitet  werden,  so  ist 
es  natiirlich,  dass  alles  Eigenthum  aufgehoben  werden  musste, 
weil  in  dem  Reich  Gottes  niemand  nichts  Eigenes  hat,  sondern 
alles  Gemeinschaftlich.  Dessentwegen  haben  wir  alle  nur  ein 
gemeinschaftliches  Interesse  hier,  und  alien,  welche  gesunde  Glie- 
der  in  dem  Leib  der  Gemeinde  sind,  gibt  die  Bruderliebe  Trieb 
und  Thatigkeit  genug,  freiwillig  und  ungezwungen  fur  den 
Nutzen  und  das  Gliick  seiner  Mitbriider  zu  sorgen,  und  dasselbe 
mit  seinem  Fleiss  und  Arbeit,  leiblich  oder  geistlich,  zu  befor- 
dern.  Dieses  aber  kann  nur  vermittelst  der  Religion  Jesu  gelernt 
und  geiibt  werden,  welches  lehrt  abzusagen  und  zu  verlaugnen 
das,  was  Hinderniss  macht,  zu  entbehren  das  an  was  man  sich 
gewohnt  hat,  und  nicht  Nothdurft  ist,  und  sich  selbst  zu  ver- 
laugnen, damit  man  fiir  andere  niitzlich  sein  kann. 

Um  aber  die  Grundsatze  der  christlichen  Religion,  sowohl 
als  auch  die  Gesetze  und  Anordnungen  der  Gemeinde  aufrecht 
zu  halten,  und  mit  Nachdruck  einzuscharfen,  wird  ein  Mann  als 
Vorsteher,  wie  oben  gesagt,  erfodert,  welchem  die  anderen  alle 
sowohl  in  geistlichen  als  natiirlichen  Anordnungen  gehorsam 
sein,  und  sich  seinen  Befehlen  unterwerfen  miissen,  damit  alles 
von  einem  Willen  abhangt,  ohne  welches  keine  Gemeinde  be- 
stehen  konnte,  obwohl  in  Hauptsachen  immer  die  Mehrheit  der 
Stimmen  regirt.  Auch  konnte  ohne  Aufhebung  alles  Eigenthums 
keine  Gemeine,  welche  auf  Grundsatze  wie  die  unsrige  errichtet, 


44  The  Harmony  Society. 

bestehen ;  sondern  wiirde  immer  Lust  zu  eigenem  Nutzen  und 
Interesse  erwecken  und  eine  unwiderstehliche  Grundursache  der 
Verwirrung  und  des  Verfalls  werden.  Dessentwegen  sind  alle 
Plane,  welche  gemacht  worden  sind,  Gemeinschaften  wie  die 
Harmonie  ohne  Ausubung  der  Religion  Jesu  und  Aufhebung  alles 
Eigenthums  zu  errichten,  gescheitert. 

Wir  sind  ziemlicher  Massen  mit  den  Schriften  von  Schwe- 
denborg  bekannt.  Sie  enthalten  viel  Brauchbares,  nur  wird  er 
von  den  mehresten  seiner  Leser  zu  sinnlich  verstanden. 

Sollte  Ihre  Gesellschaft  zu  einem  Entschluss  kommen,  in 
den  westlichen  Gegenden  eine  Gemeine  zu  errichten,  so  sollte 
zuerst  zwei  taugliche  Manner  als  Deputierte  abgeschickt  werden, 
um  hieher  zu  reisen  und  die  Gegenden  zu  besehen,  und  einen  an- 
standigen  Platz  auszusuchen.  Zur  nemlichen  Zeit  mochten  sie 
auch  uns  besuchen,  welches  Gelegenheit  gabe,  naher  mit  uns  be- 
kannt zu  werden.  Auch  haben  wir  selbst  noch  viel  vom  besten 
Land  in  unserer  Nachbarschaft  liegen,  welches  wir  an  gutge- 
sinnte  Leute  fur  billige  Preise  verkaufen  wiirden. 

Eine  einzige  Familie  sollte  von  500  zu  600  dollars  frei  auf 
den  Platz  bringen,  um  sich  J4  Sec.  (160  Acre)  Land  zu  kaufen 
und  mit  notigen  Werkzeugen  zu  versehen.  Sollten  aber  mehrere 
Familien  gemeinschaftlich  kaufen  und  leben  wollen,  so  wiirde 
weniger  erfodert. 

FRIEDRICH  RAPP." 

A  letter  of  about  the  same  date,  from  Frederick  Rapp  to 
Chester  Chadwick,  refusing  the  latter's  request  to  be  admitted 
into  the  Society,  gives  a  briefer  statement  of  some  of  the  same 
principles,  and  exhibits  that  sincere  religious  feeling,  and  kind- 
ness of  heart,  which  were  always  characteristic  of  its  writer: 

"Your  letter  of  the  15th  ult.  came  to  hand,  in  which  we  dis- 
cover you  desire  to  be  admitted  into  our  Society,  with  your  fam- 
ily, in  order  to  get  rid  of  the  trouble  and  care  which  is  requisite 
to  support  and  procure  an  honest  living  for  yourself  and  family; 
which  is  a  good  meaning  so  far,  yet  we  doubt  very  much  whether 
you  could  submit  to  our  regulations  and  manner  of  living,  for  no 
person  here  possesses  anything  as  his  own,  nor  can  anybody  act 
or  do  according  to  his  own  will,  every  member  of  the  community 
must  be  obedient  to  the  ordained  superintendents,  which  is  very 


The  Harmony  Society.  45 

hard  for  people,  who  have  not  the  kingdom  of  God  for  their  chief 
object.  For  the  fundamental  principles,  whereupon  our  commu- 
nity is  established,  are  altogether  religious.  The  religion  of  Jesus 
is  practised  here  in  fact,  no  unrighteous  man  can  abide  here,  far 
less  a  daring  sinner,  who  lives  yet  in  vices;  therefore  one  has  to 
bethink  himself  better  before  joining  our  Society  than  you  per- 
haps are  aware  of.  We  aavise  you  not  to  do  it.  We  have  not 
admitted  any  person  this  long  time,  having  been  so  often  de- 
ceived by  people  who  lived  here  one  or  two  years,  and  rinding 
the  path  to  follow  Jesus  too  narrow,  they  break  off  and  calumniate 
us;  then  all  our  trouble  spent  to  make  them  do  better  was  lost. 
The  German  language  is  also  the  only  one  spoken  here,  which 
you  do  not  understand,  and  in  consequence  could  derive  no  bene- 
fit from  church  or  school. 

Content  yourself  for  a  while  yet,  the  best  way  you  can,  a 
greater  plan  will  develop  itself  perhaps  before  long,  when  all 
the  honest  and  upright  which  are  now  scattered  here  and  there 
through  the  world  may  be  relieved  from  their  burden. 

Your  well  wisher, 

FREDERICK  RAPP." 

No  doubt  the  Society  received  many  requests  for  a  state- 
ment of  its  principles.  It  had  also  been  maligned  by  persons 
who  had  lived  in  it  for  a  time,  and  who  had  withdrawn  or  been 
expelled.  Moreover,  it  was  not  understood  by  its  Western  fron- 
tier neighbors,  and  had  incurred  their  ill  will.  These  reasons  led 
in  1824  to  the  publication  of  a  statement  of  the  principles  upon 
which  the  Society  was  founded  and  of  its  aspirations.  This  pub- 
lication was  a  treatise  of  85  pages,  printed  on  their  own  press, 
in  both  German  and  English,  under  the  titles:  „Gedanken  iiber 
die  Bestimmung  des  Menschen,  besonders  in  Hinsicht  der  gegen- 
wartigen  Zeit,  von  der  Harmonie  Gesellschaft ;"  and  in  English: 
"Thoughts  on  the  Destiny  of  Man,  particularly  with  reference  to 
the  Present  Time."  This  treatise  was  probably  edited  by  Father 
Rapp  himself.*     The  English  version  is  by  some  one  who  still 


*  During  the  early  history  of  the  Society,  it  was  customary  for  the 
members  to  organize  themselves  into  groups.  Each  group  was  called  -a 
company.  The  object  for  which  these  companies  was  formed,  was  the 
interchange  of  religious  thought.     Accordingly  each  company  assembled 


46  The  Harmony  Society. 

has  difficulty  with  the  English  language,  probably  by  Frederick 
Rapp,  for  it  contains  at  the  end  several  pages  quite  in  his  style 
and  manner  of  thought,  which  are  not  in  the  German.  Their  be- 
lief is  stated  in  an  emphatic,  if  rather  disconnected  manner. 

Man  is  destined  to  use  the  powers  given  him  by  the  Creator 
for  himself  and  others.  He  must  exercise  these  powers,  and  for 
that  intercourse  with  men  is  necessary. 

In  man  there  are  tendencies  both  for  good  and  evil.  His 
free  will  must  decide  whether  he  shall  obey  his  reason  or  his 
passions.  If  he  chooses  the  former,  he  comes  in  conflict  with 
his  passions  and  sensual  propensities.  Man  unaided  has  not 
strength  enough  for  this  contest.  Reason  is  limited  to  this 
world.  The  Christian  religion,  which  opens  up  a  future  life,  alone 
can  give  him  the  victory.  Those  who  believe  in  Christ's  word, 
are  moulded  to  men  of  God,  whose  aim  is  to  unite  the  general 
welfare  of  their  fellow  men  with  their  own  welfare,  and  thus 
help  to  regain  the  lost  dignity  of  man.  This  is  practical  Christi- 
anity. This  universally  active  love  for  men  is  what  Jesus  had  in 
view  when  he  founded  his  religion. 

Religion  and  reason  together  guide  men  aright.  "A  good 
man  would  cheat  nobody  intentionally,  even  if  he  were  not  in- 
fluenced by  religion,  for  his  natural  reason  itself  tells  him  that 
deception  is  wrong  and  does  not  enrich."  Men  who  are  guided 
by  reason  and  an  aroused  consciousness  of  religious  duty,  can 
form  a  permanent  union  for  true  and  real  welfare,  and  constitute 
a  compound  whole,  for  which  the  human  race  is  destined.  To 
attain  this  great  end,  enlightenment  and  increase  of  knowledge 


on  Sunday  evening  at  the  home  of  one  of  its  members.  On  these  occa- 
sions each  member  was  expected  to  bring  a  fragment  (Snick)  in  refer- 
ence to  what  was  best  in  religion  and  morals  for  man's  temporal  and 
eternal  welfare.  Whenever  any  such  fragment  elicited  particular  inter- 
est, the  author  was  made  to  bring  the  production  to  the  notice  of  Father 
Rapp.  If  it  met  with  his  approval,  it  was  entered  in  a  book  provided  for 
that  purpose,  the  "Stiickbuch."  It  is  quite  likely  that  from  these  frag- 
ments Father  Rapp  composed  his  treatise,  and  on  that  account  called 
it  "Gedanken."  This  would  account  for  the  frequent  repetition  of  the 
same  thought  in  somewhat  different  language,  and  for  the  unsystematic 
arrangement  of  the  book.  (This  information  was  given  by  Mr.  John  S. 
Duss.) 


The  Harmony  Society.  47 

are  necessary.  Arts  and  sciences  contribute  to  greater  universal 
strength,  to  the  welfare  of  the  whole  human  race. 

The  time  is  approaching-  when  all  good  and  reasonable  men 
will  unite  in  perfect  harmony  to  form  a  kingdom  of  God,  which 
must  be  brought  about  by  men.  In  union  there  is  strength. 
Their  effectiveness  is  increased  when  the  benefactors  of  mankind 
unite  to  further  their  aims.  Without  this  united  strength,  per- 
fection is  never  attainable  by  our  race.  The  time  is  ripe  for  this 
harmony.  It  will  result  in  a  nation  of  brothers  from  whose  per- 
fectly harmonious  actions  the  rights  of  man  shall  again  spring 
forth  and  be  perpetuated  without  king,  emperor  or  monarch. 
Then  political  institutions  may  pass  away,  but  the  spirit  of  the 
nation,  humanity,  will  remain. 

This  spirit  of  the  times  sought  in  vain  a  home  with  all  na- 
tions until  it  found  in  the  new  world  a  people  which  still  had 
force  and  energy.  From  the  small  beginning  already  made  in 
America  will  proceed  the  regeneration  of  society. 

"For  the  regeneration  of  society,  the  Christian  religion  is 
essential.  Such  a  vigorous  and  effective  religion  as  the  Christian 
can  alone  be  pregnant  with  a  germ  for  the  restoration  of  higher 
felicity,  and  for  the  production  of  a  realm  of  men,  consistent  with 
the  word  of  Jesus,  in  which  many  peoples  will  be  gradually 
transformed  by  the  bond  of  love  into  a  Brother  nation,  where 
divine  truth  and  duty  towards  man  can  be  taught  and  practised 
without  pomp  or  constraint,  without  dissimulation  or  supersti- 
tion." 

This  higher  social  life  has  already  appeared.  It  will  leaven 
the  whole  mass.  ,,Also  kein  Stillstehen  im  Reich  Gottes  —  nicht 
mehr  Ruckgang,  sondern  Fortriicken  zum  vollkommenen  Ziel, 
wo  auf  griinen  und  frohen  Gefilden  ein  Tempel  Gottes  gebaut, 
darin  die  noch  lichtfahige  Menschen,  Ruhe  und  Erquickung  fin- 
den,  anzubeten  in  der  heilgen  Halle,  des  Wesens  Einklang,  Ord- 
nung  und  Harmonie." 

A  way  is  also  opened  to  religious  unity  between  friend  and 
friend,  brother  and'brother,  and  this  without  being  stained  with 
monkish  sophistry.  Only  practical  Christianity  can  enable  men 
to  fulfil  the  purpose  of  God.  In  barbarous  ages,  Christianity  was 
the  safety  and  order  of  the  world.     In  our  century  it  will  con- 


4-8  The  Harmony  Society. 

tinue,  according  to  the  plan  of  Jesus,  to  accomplish  his  work  of 
love  until  peoples  of  many  nations  shall  finally  unite  in  one  beau- 
tiful army  of  brothers. 

„Mit  so  edelen  Gesinnungen,  Neigungen,  Trieben,  wird  alles 
in  einander  gebunden ;  Burgerstarke,  Qesetzgebung,  Staatsver- 
fassung,  Andacht  und  Religion.  Was  vor  ein  Gantzes  wird  sich 
daraus  entwickeln  Eine  Brudernation  ohne  Monarchic,  alle  nach 
einer  Verfassung,  in  Glauben  und  Religion,  friedlich  und  in  Ein- 
tracht  zu  leben,  und  wirken  in  Brudergemeinen  und  Harmonien, 
Alle  fur  Eine,  und  Eine  fur  Alle." 

This  end  will  be  reached  through  revolution  and  regenera- 
tion. Truth,  religion,  reason  must,  in  spite  of  all  the  mad  at- 
tacks of  their  enemies,  finally  conquer.  And  what,  if  the  one 
instrument  in  the  plan  of  providence  were  already  in  existence? 
A  united  brother-people  is  the  habitation  of  God.  There  the 
germ  of  a  new  political  and  religious  life  has  sprung  up.  A  har- 
monious people  is  already  in  existence,  who,  in  order  to  attain 
to  a  higher  virtue,  have  renounced  sensuality  and  the  enjoyment 
of  the  earthly  pleasures  of  human  nature.  They  are  waiting  for 
the  foundation  of  the  kingdom  of  God  on  earth,  proclaimed  by 
Christ,  whose  purpose  it  is  to  form  men  who  will  advance  the 
welfare  and  happiness  of  others.  In  fact,  Christianity  was  no- 
thing else  than  a  "bond  of  friendship  combining  all  duties  and 
regulations  for  spiritual  and  temporal  interests  and  uniting  all 
mankind  into  one  social  bond  of  union.  Christianity  ought 
never  to  have  had  any  but  the  best  and  most  upright  men  in  its 
communities  and  ought  to  have  been  governed  by  superintend- 
ents and  fathers  without  the  aid  of  secular  power.  The  reigning 
system  ought  to  have  been  a  pure  and  true  theocracy.  Religion 
ought  to  have  settled  all  disputes  among  Christians  and  not  the 
judiciary  tribunals.  Hail  the  country,  where  such  a  dignified 
exercise  of  office  can  be  and  is  permitted  to  be  administered." 

The  purer  the  principles  of  religion  are,  the  more  it  will  ad- 
vance both  the  spiritual  and  temporal  welfare  of  the  community. 
The  whole  religious  plan  of  Jesus  was  union  and  fraternity.  If 
only  one  such  society  existed  in  the  world,  nothing  would  be 
more  natural,  than  that  all  elements  and  many  nations  should 
unite  with  it. 
• 


The  Harmony  Society.  49 

The  union  of  souls  is  the  sweetest  and  most  noble  enjoy- 
ment of  which  man  is  capable.  It  is  the  highest  happiness  of 
earth.  It  is  divine,  heavenly,  unselfish.  Where  sensual  enjoy- 
ment with  its  needs  cease,  begins  a  freer,  better  and  higher 
enjoyment,  a  friendly  living  together  of  brotherly  souls  who  love 
and  serve  each  other.  The  germ  of  such  a  union  lies  in  human 
nature. 

The  noblest  form  of  state  has  never  yet  been  realized.  It 
is  the  union  of  the  powers  of  the  several  members  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  whole,  for  the  welfare  of  all.  That  is  Harmony.  The 
Harmony  Society  is  an  evidence  of  what  a  union  can  accomplish. 
The  more  our  undertakings  are  based  on  pure  truth  and  love  of 
men,  the  more  useful  and  permanent  are  our  works. 

Life  in  harmony  with  our  fellowrs  is  the  best  preparation  for 
heaven.  "Here  seek  a  friend  of  God,  exercise  yourself  on  Him, 
and  no  matter  how  it  pains,  do  not  leave  him  until  you  lose  your 
own  life.  You  need  not  trouble  yourself  about  any  other  heaven, 
for  in  the  simplicity  to  which  you  have  attained,  you  are  fitted 
for  all  the  heavenly  societies  which  make  up  heaven  or  the  king- 
dom of  God."  One  can  not  expect  to  commune  with  God  who  can 
not  get  on  with  his  fellow  men.  Only  in  social  life  can  mankind 
attain  its  destiny.  Only  in  such  a  society  is  life  truly  free. 
There  political  and  religious  institutions  are  united.  There  is 
no  fear  of  slavish  laws  and  penalties ;  for  the  good  man  is  also 
the  truly  free  man,  for  he  obeys  the  law  of  nature,  as  well  as  of 
truth,  from  a  sense  of  love.  When  he  recognizes  what  is  true, 
good  and  useful,  he  does  it  without  compulsion,  entirely  because 
it  is  good  and  true.  This  freedom  prevails  in  the  Harmony  So- 
ciety. "In  the  common  household  of  this  brotherhood,  the  great- 
est order,  skill  and  diligence  are  observed  in  the  most  minute  as 
well  as  the  most  extensive  transactions.  Here  wealth  is  pos- 
sessed in  abundance,  and  all  cares  for  sustenance  are  removed 
and  forgotten.  No  sluggard  can  live  in  this  amicable  confedera- 
tion, for  permission  is  never  given  to  any  one  to  eat  his  bread 
in  sinful  indolence.  Male  and  female,  old  and  young,  are  use- 
fully employed  according  to  their  powers  of  mind  and  body;  all 
contribute  to  the  welfare  of  the  whole,  and  from  the  common 
stock  all  are  supplied  with  all  the  necessaries  of  life. 

The  various  branches  of  this  economic  commonwealth,  thus 


50  The  Harmony  Society. 

regularly  conducted  and  united.,  form  one  great  machine,  the 
principal  wheel  of  which,  when  in  motion,  puts  all  the  rest  in 
motion  for  the  interest  of  the  whole.  In  their  mutual  enjoy- 
ments all  the  members  are  contented  and  happy ;  none  is  rich  or 
poor;  the  causes  of  distress  and  clamor  in  the  world  are  not  ex- 
perienced or  even  known  here.  How  could  it  be  otherwise?  In 
eating,  drinking  and  clothing  everything  is  plain  and  simple,  like 
nature  herself  in  her  household,  which  we  necessarily  take  as  an 
example  for  imitation  in  our  economical  regulations  for  the  re- 
storation of  a  happier  age.  Here  are  possessed  sufficient  means 
for  convenience,  and  a  competent  knowledge  for  their  application 
to  the  rational  and  useful  purposes  of  life.  Where  so  many  use- 
ful, active  persons  are  harmoniously  united,  there  must  be,  and 
evidently  is,  a  true  kingdom  of  God.  "Those  who  choose  such 
a  life  are  such  as  are  conscious  of  their  imperfections  and  dis- 
satisfied with  themselves  and  have  not  perverted  their  moral 
faculties."  In  this  manner  the  whole  human  race  will  eventually 
be  ameliorated. 

In  America  nothing  hinders  the  Society  from  practising  its 
belief.  It  is  a  special  providence  that  this  land  became  a  free  re- 
public. 

The  restoration  of  the  dignity  of  man  can  alone  secure  to 
us  the  golden  age.  The  brotherly  union  will  finally  triumph.  The 
dignity  of  the  human  race  is  gradually  progressing  and  a  better 
race  of  men  is  beginning  to  appear,  which  will  show  clearly  to 
the  world  the  superior  refinement  and  happiness  of  that  united 
and  social  life,  for  the  enjoyment  of  which  the  Creator  implanted 
faculties  in  man. 

Mankind  is  only  that  which  it  makes  out  of  itself.  A  hun- 
dred means  of  improvement  are  in  our  hands  as  soon  as  we  have 
a  vivid  feeling  of  the  necessity  of  improvement.  God  helps  us 
only  through  our  faculties,  reason  and  industry. 

That  society  only  is  happy  in  which  luxury  has  no  place. 
The  kingdom  of  heaven  will  be  founded  here  on  earth  out  of 
men,  and  not  in  eternity;  and  that  on  a  perfectly  firm  basis  for 
the  spiritual  and  temporal  welfare  of  those  who  share  it. 

Unless  the  mind  be  pure  and  enlightened,  the  principles  of 
a  fraternity  can  neither  be  understood  nor  appreciated. 

"Men  view  the  treasures  of  heaven  as  a  common  stock;  why 


The  Harmony  Society.  51 

not  consider  then  the  treasures  of  earth  in  the  same  light?  It 
is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  he  who  can  not  learn  to  share  with 
his  brother  in  this  life,  will  not  easily  do  so  in  the  world  to 
come,  and  that  no  one  need  expect  to  find  happiness  in  the  hea- 
venly society  of  men,  unless  he  first  learn  and  practise  the  social 
virtues  here  among  his  fellow  creatures ;  because  if  he  be  not 
accustomed  to  deny  himself  on  earth,  he  will  surely  take  offence, 
even  in  heaven."  The  golden  treasure  of  this  world  is  friendship. 
This  heavenly  virtue,  the  first  principle  of  which  is  implanted 
in  the  nature  of  man,  begins  to  spread  around  us  its  genial  in- 
fluence, and  to  flourish  in  a  brotherly  society  of  harmonious 
members.  If  all  mankind  were  to  live  in  thousands  of  such  bro- 
therly communities,  their  happiness  would  be  greatly  promoted. 
The  experience  of  twenty  years  shows  the  superior  advantages 
of  a  united  religious  community,  based  on  the  principles  of  bro- 
therly unity  established  and  practised  by  Christ  and  his  apostles. 

It  is  decreed  that  the  whole  human  race  shall  become  united 
by  the  sacred  bond  of  mutual  interest  and  brotherly  affection. 
The  two  chief  obstacles  to  this  union  are  the  sensual  propensities 
and  the  ignorance  of  men. 

"The  proper  education  of  the  youth  is  of  the  greatest  im- 
portance to  the  prosperity  of  any  plan  for  the  amelioration  of 
mankind.  That  kind  of  learning  and  those  fashionable  accom- 
plishments which  are  useless  and  only  calculated  for  show  should 
be  entirely  abolished,  and  in  their  stead  those  true  principles  and 
habits  of  life  should  be  established  and  confirmed,  which  most 
strongly  tend  to  unite  the  hearts,  minds  and  fortunes  of  the  ris- 
ing generation,  and  arouse  their  sleeping  faculties  for  the  per- 
formance of  all  that  is  truly  good  and  great. 

It  is  ardently  hoped  and  believed  that  this  sublime,  pre- 
destined system  of  Brotherly  Union  and  Social  Harmony  will 
ere  long  be  universally  established  for  the  restoration  of  the 
golden  age,  the  dignity  of  human  character,  and  the  happiness 
of  man." 

Such  were  th,e  aspirations  of  George  Rapp.  His  was  no  nar- 
row, selfish  plan.  It  embraced  all  mankind,  and  its  aim  was  the 
regeneration  of  society.  The  Harmony  Society,  with  its  theo- 
cratic government   insuring  the  spiritual   and  temporal   welfare 


52  The  Harmony  Society. 

of  its  members,  was  the  model  on  which  society  was  to  be  re- 
constituted. 

In  1807,  under  the  influence  of  religious  enthusiasm,  the 
Society  adopted  the  custom  of  celibacy.  They  became  con- 
vinced that  this  was  a  purer  mode  of  life,  and  that  the  self-denial 
required  for  the  practice  of  it  would  prepare  them  for  the  king- 
dom of  Christ,  so  soon  to  be  established  on  earth.  Husbands 
were  not  separated  from  their  wives  and  families,  but  they  lived 
together  in  the  same  houses  as  before ;  instead  of  the  marital  re- 
lation, they  lived  together  as  brother  and  sister.  No  effort  was 
made  to  keep  the  sexes  apart.  It  was  left  to  the  conscience  of 
each  one  to  comply  with  the  self-imposed  restriction.  The  prac- 
tice was  adhered  to  almost  universally.  Members  who  desired 
to  get  marrkd  had  to  leave  the  Society.  But  married  persons 
with  their  families  were  still  admitted,  some  of  them  had  been 
former  members.  In  1819,  Dr.  Feucht  left  the  Society  and  was 
married.  He  and  his  wife  were  re-admitted  the  same  year.  To 
this  couple  four  children  were  born.  In  1807  the  Society  also  re- 
solved to  discontinue  the  use  of  tobacco. 

They  found  a  basis  for  the  practice  of  celibacy  in  the  mysti- 
cal theology  of  the  school  of  Jacob  Boehme.  The  Hirtenbrief 
of  this  school  contained  views  very  nearly  in  accord  with  their 
own.  The  Society  had  this  work  reprinted  in  1855  and  a  copy 
of  it  placed  in  every  family.*  In  this  it  was  held  that  Adam,  as 
first  created,  had  a  dual  nature,  containing  both  male  and  female 
elements,  and,  if  he  had  remained  in  this  perfect  state,  would 
have  had  the  power  of  propagation  in  some  mysterious,  spiritual 
manner.  But  in  his  sleep  in  the  Garden  of  Eden,  itself  the  result 
of  an  inordinate  desire  aroused  in  his  heart  by  the  tempter,  the 
female  element  was  separated  from  him  in  the  creation  of  Eve. 
The  regenerated  man  would  return  to  the  original  perfect  state 
of  Adam. 

This  doctrine  of  the  Hirtenbrief  re-appears  in  a  letter  of  Mr. 
Henrici  to  a  Shaker,  October  15,  1858: 

"Adam,  by  his  fall  and  sleep,  was  deprived  of  his  feminine 
half  and  lost  the  true  image  of  God,  two  in  one.  Christ  re-in- 
stated that  lost  image  and  was  and  is  the  true  image,  therefore 


*  Williams.     The  Harmony  Society,  p.  137. 


The  Harmony  Society.  53 

we  cannot  for  a  moment  indulge  in  the  idea  that  perfection  means 
any  thing"  short  of  the  ultimate  union  of  two  in  one,  as  Adam  was 
before  the  separation  of  the  woman."  And  in  another  letter  to 
the  same  person,  he  wrote :  "We  find  that  your  views  in  regard  to 
Jesus  Christ,  the  eternal  son  of  God,  as  well  as  in  regard  to  the 
perfectly  regenerated  man  in  his  glorified  body  of  physical  resur- 
rection are  entirely  too  low  and  narrow,  and  not  in  accord  with 
what  the  word  of  God  warrants  us  to  hope  and  expect.  They 
were  not  miserable  halves,  like  the  present  animal  man  and  wo- 
man, but  perfect  sons  and  images  of  God,  who  are  truly  whole 
and  perfect  within  themselves,  whose  external  visible  part  is  the 
woman,  who  compasses  the  internal  invisible  commanding  part, 
the  man,  and  who  thus  are  a  dualism,  man  and  woman,  as  well 
as  a  trinity,  spirit,  soul  and  body.  The  sperm  to  this  creation 
of  such  a  full  and  true  son  of  God  is  yet  dormant  in  every  son 
of  man ;  but  can  only  be  quickened  and  put  in  growth  by  Jesus 
Christ,  the  new  Adam,  who  is  father  and  mother  in  one  of  truth — 
the  new  creation — through  a  life  of  regeneration ;  but  in  this  vile 
body  our  life  is  hid  with  Christ  in  God,  but  when  Christ  shall 
appear,  then  shall  we  also  appear  with  him  in  glory." 

It  was  found  too  that  celibate  persons  surrendered  their  in- 
dividual interests  more  readily  to  the  common  welfare,  than  mar- 
ried persons. 

Father  Rapp  believed  that  Christ  would  re-appear  on  earth 
in  Palestine,  and  always  held  himself  in  readiness  to  lead  his  peo- 
ple thither,  when  the  appointed  time  should  arrive.  He  held 
firmly  to  his  faith  to  the  last,  and  could  not  believe  that  he  would 
die  before  the  completion  of  his  work.  The  Sabbath  before  his 
death  he  preached  to  his  people  from  the  window  of  his  sick 
room,  exhorting  them  to  patience  and  submission  to  the  will  of 
God,  to  prayer  and  work  for  the  salvation  of  the  whole  human 
race,  to  faith  in  God's  word  and  to  harmony.  He  died  August 
7,  1847,  aged  90  years.  One  of  the  elders  who  watched  by  his 
bedside  the  last  night  of  his  life  put  on  record  the  following 
statement:  "Father  Rapp's  strong  faith  in  the  literal  fulfillment 
of  the  promises  concerning  the  personal  coming  of  Jesus  Christ 
remained  unshaken  to  his  last  moments,  as  was  shown  by  his 
last  words,  when  he  felt  the  strong  grip  of  approaching  death, 
saying:  Tf  I  did  not  so  fully  believe  that  the  Lord  has  designed 


54  The  Harmony  Society. 

me  to  place  our  Society  before  his  presence  in  the  land  of  Canaan, 
I  would  consider  this  my  last.*' " 

Father  Rapp  accepted  the  Bible  as  the  sole  guide  in  things 
spiritual.  His  theology  was  that  of  the  mystical  Boehme  and 
Jung-Stilling.  He  believed  in  future  rewards  and  punishments, 
but  that  punishment  would  not  last  forever,  and  that  ultimately 
all  men  would  be  saved.* 

The  religious  services  of  the  Society  were  much  like  those 
of  the  Lutheran  church,  to  which  most  of  the  members  had  orig- 
inally belonged.  But  some  of  the  members  had  been  Moravians, 
some  Catholics,  and  no  profession  of  faith  or  acceptance  of  any 
religious  dogmas  was  required  of  those  joining  the  Society.  The 
practice  of  confession  of  sins  to  the  superintendent  was  encour- 
aged. 

The  three  special  festivals  of  the  Society,  partly  religious 
in  character,  are  the  Harmoniefest,  February  15th,  the  anniver- 
sary of  the  founding  of  the  Society,  the  Danksagungstag,  or 
Harvest-Home,  in  early  autumn,  and  the  Liebesmahl  and  Lord's 
Supper,  which  they  observe  together  in  the  latter  part  of  Octo- 
ber. The  festivals  are  celebrated  in  the  large  Assembly  Hall. 
Music  and  feasting  are  leading  features  on  these  occasions. 
Reconciliation  with  one's  enemies  is  insisted  on  as  a  necessary 
preparation  for  the  Lord's  Supper. 

The  following  hymn  was  composed  for  the  thirtieth  anniver- 
sary of  the  founding  of  the  Society,  the  Harmoniefest,  February 

15,  1835: 

Harmonie,  du  Auserkorne, 

Der  ewgen  Einheit  Erstgeborne 

Vor  aller  Creatur  und  Zeit. 

Bis  heut'  thatst  du  dich  behaupten, 

Wie  alle  deine  Helden  glaubten ; 

Drum  sei  dir  heut  dies  Fest  geweiht, 

Du  schone  Sulamith, 

In  deinem  Geistestritt,  kehre 

Wieder  im  Geisteshauch 

Nach  deinem  Brauch, 

Und  fordre  vollends  unsern  Lauf. 


♦Williams.    The   Harmony   Society,   p.   182. 
*  Williams,  ibid,  p.  118. 


The  Harmony  Society.  55 

Du  hast  vor  aller  Leben  Leben, 
Die  Einheit  als  den  Mann  umgeben  ; 
Da  warst  du  schon  Gebarerin  : 
Als  Gott  zu  dir  sprach  :   Es  werde, 
Da  warst  du  schon  die  Mutter  Erde, 
Und  gabst  dem  Geist  den  Leib  und  Sinn. 
Nur  diinn,  nach  Engelart,  doch  lichtvoll, 
Rein  und  zart,  so  schufst  du  ihn, 
Allein  er  fiel,  durchs  Feuer-Gewiihl, 
Daraus  entstand  der  Selbstheit  Spiel. 

Dieses  Spiel  bei  Jung  und  Alten 

Macht  Bruderlieb  so  oft  erkalten ; 

Drum  week  uns  heute  Geist  und  Kraft, 

Dass  wir  uns  heut  recht  vereinen, 

Der  Sanftmuth  Quell  uns  mocht  erscheinen, 

Von  Innen  aus  dem  Geistes-Saft, 

Damit  dir  Lieblichkeit,  zu  deiner 

Wonn  und  Freud,  bald  erscheine. 

Im  Salz  der  Kraft  den  Geist  umfasst, 

Dass  eines  zu  dem  andern  passt. 

Denn  wir  haben  viel  erfahren 

In  diesen  vollen  dreissig  Jahren ; 

Die  wir  bereits  zurtickgelegt, 

Die  Geist-  Seel-  und  Leibs-Bekehrung 

Setzt  jedem  zehen  zur  Vermehrung, 

So  wie  auch  unser  Urbild  pflegt. 

Nun  Philadelphia, 

Jetzt  sing  Halleluja 

Gott  Lob  und  Dank,  jetzt  hat  ein  End 

Der  Vorsatz'  Schltind; 

Der  Geist  ist  Herr  im  Regiment. 

Und  du,  Vater,  welche  Gnade, 

Du  warst  Durchbrecher  auf  dem  Pfade, 

Denn  du  hast  allzeit  Gott  vertraut, 

Und  durch  dieses  bist  du  worden 

Der  Eckstein  deiner  Mitkonsorten, 

Und  hast  dem  Geist  den  Leib  gebaut, 

Jetzt  nur  Beharrung  her. 

Ruft  deine  holde  Lehr',  guter  Vater, 

Wir  wollens  thun,  zu  deinem  Ruhm ; 

Wir  bleiben  doch  dein  Eigenthum. 


56  The  Harmony  Society. 

Nun  zum  sprechenden  Beweise 

Umringt  den  Vater  recht  mit  Fleisse, 

Begleitet  ihn  ins  Bruderhaus. 

Heut  muss  das  Weib  den  Mann  umgeben, 

Durch  ihn  kommt  unser  wachsend  Leben, 

Er  fuhrt  uns  aus  uns  selbst  hinaus. 

Auch  dich,  du  junges  Volk, 

Zahlt  er  zur  Zeugen-Wolk' ; 

Drum  haltet  aus  und  bleibt  getreu ; 

Bald  sehen  wir  frei, 

Wer  Gott  und  unser  Vater  sei. 

The  following  is  a  hymn  for  Danksagungstag  1880: 

EINTRACHT. 

Selige  Eintracht,  himmlisches  Bild, 
Schwebe  hernieder  trostend  und  mild; 
Allen  lass  leuchten  gnadig  dein  Licht; 
Selige  Eintracht,  weich'  von  uns  nicht. 

Worte  der  Zwietracht  schallen  mit  Macht, 
Lass  sie  verstimmen,  schwinden  in  Nacht, 
Schirme  die  Freiheit,  wende  Gefahr, 
Mach'  uns  ergeben  dir  immerdar. 

O,  du  erhebest  machtig  den  Geist, 
Dass  er  aus  Siinden  muthvoll  sich  reisst; 
O,  du  entbindest  von  allem  Leid, 
Dass  sich  die  Seele  ewig  erfreut. 

Ja,  mit  dir  leben,  sterben  mit  dir, 
Himmelan  schweben  selig  mit  dir, 
Lass  uns,  o  Eintracht,  weich  von  uns  nicht, 
Mit  deinem  heiligen  himmlischen  Licht. 

The  funeral  services  are  very  simple,  consisting  of  singing 
and  a  few  remarks.  The  graveyard  is  in  the  orchard  and  the 
graves  are  in  no  way  marked.  Even  Father  Rapp's  grave  is  not 
distinguished  from  the  others.  A  register  is  kept  of  the  deceased, 
with  the  number  of  the  grave  in  its  row,  and  only  in  this  way 
can  the  graves  be  distinguished.* 

♦Williams.     The  Harmony  Society,  p.  115. 


The  Harmony  Society.  57 

Jacob  Henrici  was  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Society  from 
Father  Rapp's  death,  1847,  until  his  own,  1892.  He  believed 
as  ardently  as  Father  Rapp  himself  in  the  importance  of  the  work 
of  the  Society  and  in  the  personal  second  coming  of  Christ. 

Rev.  Jos.  A.  Seiss,  of  Philadelphia,  was  publishing  "The 
Prophetic  Times,"  a  religious  paper  proclaiming  the  second  ad- 
vent of  Christ.  In  response  to  an  appeal  for  aid  in  spreading 
this  doctrine,  Mr.  Henrici  wrote  the  following  letter,  signed  by 
Mr.  Baker  and  himself: 

"Economy,  July  31,  1867. 
Rev.  Jos.  A.  Seiss,  D.  D., 

422  N.  Seventh  street, 

Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Your  kind  letter  of  July  17th  has  reached  us  in  due  time. 
We  are  not  at  all  surprised  that  you  cannot  comprehend  (and 
that  you  must  first  find  fault  witti)  our  inactivity  in  regard  to 
spreading  the  precious  truths  for  which  you  and  your  friends 
have  worked  so  long  and  so  faithfully.  Were  you  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  the  history  of  our  Society,  you  would  be  less 
astonished  at  our  conduct.  We  are  fully  convinced  that  the 
founding  of  our  Society,  with  all  its  peculiarities,  has  been  the 
work  of  the  same  all  wise  and  almighty  power  that  founded  the 
first  Christian  church  of  Jerusalem  (Acts,  chaps.  2d  and  4th), 
and  that  it  has  ever  since  by  the  same  source  of  light  and  life, 
been  guided  and  sustained. 

We  therefore  consider  ourselves  and  all  we  possess  without 
the  least  reservation  as  belonging  to  Him  who  has  bought  us 
with  his  precious  blood.  We  would  not  like  to  do  or  omit  any- 
thing contrary  to  his  wishes,  but  until  now  we  never  felt  our- 
selves competent  or  called  upon  to  publish  anything  for  anybody 
outside  of  our  Society.  But  we  always  found  it  the  sacred  duty 
of  our  Society  to  prepare  itself  for  the  great  day  of  his  blessed 
second  coming,  and  for  the  important  work  which  he  will  have 
to  do  for  us  at  the  time  of  his  own  divine  election,  which  we 
alwavs  prayed  him  to  hasten.  In  the  meantime,  we  found  our- 
selves in  duty  bound  to  stand  as  a  shining  light  for  all  who  were 
able  or  willing  to  see,  by  cultivating  among  ourselves  a  perfect 
Christian  Union,  founded  on  a  pure  and  holy  life  of  true  Christian 
self-denial,  and  by  verifying  the  name  of  our  Society  in  restoring 


58  The  Harmony  Society. 

through  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  that  divine  Harmony  for 
which  we  are  destined  and  which  would  have  existed  among  the 
children  of  God,  and  with  their  heavenly  father  and  the  whole 
Universe  had  the  Fall,  that  source  of  all  discord,  never  hap- 
pened. 

Oh  how  fervently  did  we  always  wish,  hope  and  pray  for  the 
blessed  day  of  his  glorious  appearing.  Long,  long  ago  have  we 
thought  to  see  the  unerring  signs  of  that  great  event,  and  did 
certain  steps  towards  embracing  and  proclaiming  it,  but  we  found 
that  what  we  had  done  was  premature  and  created  us  trouble 
and  only  served  as  an  impressive  lesson  to  wait  more  patiently 
for  God's  own  appointed  time.  The  virtues  which  the  word  of 
God  has  taught  and  his  Holy  Spirit  has  explained  to  us  as  most 
essential  for  a  true  preparation  for  the  citizenship  of  the  King- 
dom of  God,  were  not  considered  as  such  by  others  and  were 
scoffed  at  by  ministers  and  other  professors  of  Christianity  and 
were  especially  repulsive  to  the  great  majority  of  the  American 
public  and  the  rationalistic  Germans  who  naturally  hate  and  de- 
spise a  life  of  true  Christian  obedience,  humility,  chastity  and 
self-denial.  There  were  always  but  few  that  loved  and  respected 
the  tree  for  its  golden  fruit  which  they  saw,  tasted  and  enjoyed. 
True  members  of  our  Society  always  enjoyed  a  happiness  (even 
in  this  world)  with  which  no  earthly  blessings  can  be  compared, 
but  when  we  consider  how  few  were  ever  able  or  willing  to  em- 
brace it,  we  were  compelled  to  say  that  our  time  had  not  yet  ar- 
rived. Only  those  can  enjoy  the  peace  and  happiness  of  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  who  are  truly  heavenly  minded.  For  a  number 
of  years  we  have  had  very  poor  luck  with  those  that  from  favor- 
able reports  were  induced  to  join  our  Society;  they  generally 
came  with  erroneous  or  impure  motives,  neither  understanding 
themselves  nor  the  real  object  of  our  Society  and  the  trial  for 
membership  generally  resulted  in  loss  of  time  and  disappoint- 
ment, both  to  them  and  to  ourselves,  so  that  the  undeserved  bad 
reports  which  were  spread  about  our  Society  caused  us  often 
less  trouble  and  seemed  to  do  us  less  harm  than  the  occasional 
praises  which  some  friend  had  kindly  bestowed  on  us,  and 
thereby  induced  such  people  to  become  candidates  for  member- 
ship. Upon  the  whole,  we  found  that  all  endeavors  to  bring 
about  a  better  state  of  fallen  humanity  are  of  little  avail,  as  long 


The  Harmony  Society.  59 

as  God's  time  has  not  arrived  and  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  is  not 
taking  the  lead  and  the  control.  For  nearly  the  last  forty  years 
a  number  of  individuals  and  of  Societies  who  had  imagined  to 
be  called  by  the  Lord  for  great  purposes,  presented  their  pre- 
tended important  writings  and  revelations  to  us  and  requested 
and  sometimes  in  the  name  of  Almighty  God  commanded  us  to 
accept  them  as  divine  messages  and  revelations  and  furnish  the 
means  for  their  publication,  but  on  close  examination,  we  always 
found  that  they  had  made  themselves  the  centre  of  the  new  reve- 
lations, and  after  all  preached  themselves  instead  of  Christ  cruci- 
fied. Yet  we  never  ceased  to  hope,  to  believe  and  wait,  though 
often  meeting  with  darkness  where  and  when  we  expected  light. 

But  now  when  we  find  by  the  powerful  and  unselfish  and  up- 
right testimony  of  yourself  and  many  other  excellent  witnesses, 
that  the  glorious  morning  is  dawning,  we  take  new  courage  to 
hope  for  the  early  deliverance  of  the  oppressed  children  of  God 
by  the  glorious  appearing  of  our  long  looked  for,  dear,  dear 
Saviour. 

We  ourselves  not  being  calculated  to  write  or  publish  any- 
thing, which  under  present  circumstances  would  do  any  good, 
and  believing  that  our  proper  work  is  already  fully  designed,  and 
will  be  plainly  revealed  to  us  by  the  Lord  as  soon  as  he  wishes 
us  to  enlarge  our  present  sphere  of  action,  for  which  we  keep 
ourselves  ready  with  a  perfectly  good  will,  and  not  being  willing 
to  spend  any  time  or  any  means  for  uncalled  for  publications,  be- 
ing convinced  that  the  impending  final  judgment  will,  under  the 
Lord's  direction,  make  a  more  effectual  impression  in  one  day 
than  all  the  printing  presses  could  do  in  a  century  without  it. 
We  took  some  time  for  examining  the  publication  you  kindly 
sent  us,  and  for  calmly  and  duly  considering  the  many  questions 
you  addressed  to  us,  and  finally  came  to  the  conclusion  that  your 
publications  are  excellent  and  well  calculated  to  do  a  great  deal 
of  good.  We  therefore  do  not  hesitate  to  make  a  contribution 
for  that  well  intended  purpose.  As  a  beginning,  we  herewith 
enclosed  send  you  a  draft  on  New  York  for  three  hundred  dol- 
lars, which  you  may  use  as  you  think  best.     Hoping  that  its  ap- 


60  The  Harmony  Society. 

plication  may  receive  the  approbation  and  blessing  of  our  dear 
Savious  and  Lord,  Jesus  Christ, 
We  remain, 

Your  sincere  friends, 

BAKER  and  HENRICI,  Trustees." 

Shortly  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Baker,  in  1868,  Mr.  Henrici 
wrote  in  a  letter  to  Louise  Weil : 

„fch  habe  eine  sehr  hohe  Ansicht,  von  dem  Werthe  und  der 
endlichen  Bestimmung  unsrer  harmonischen  Gemeine,  die,  ob- 
gleich  jetzt  in  verborgener  Gestalt  und  mit  manchen  menschli- 
chen  Unvollkommenheiten  belastet,  dennoch  fur  einen  grossen 
geheimen  Zweck  unmittelbar  vom  Herrn  selbst  gegriindet  und 
bis  auf  den  heutigen  Tag  gnadig  und  wunderbar  beschutzt  und 
geleitet  worden." 

And  in  1869  he  wrote  to  Dr.  F.  A.  Wintuska :  ,,Wir  sind  in 
unserer  Ueberzeugung  der  redlichen  Erfiillung  der  vom  Herrn 
versprochenen  personlichen  Wiederkunft  noch  so  fest  als  je,  und 
wir  wollten  lieber  auf  diesen  Glauben  sterben,  als  die  Ver- 
heissung  fur  irrig  oder  unerfiillbar  erklaren.  In  diesem  Glauben 
und  in  dieser  Ueberzeugung  und  in  der  treuen  Ausiibung  der 
daraus  entspringenden  Pflichten,  geniessen  wir  jetzt  schon  einen 
ganz  ungemeinen  Wohlstand,  geistlich  und  leiblich,  und  der 
Friede  Gottes,  welcher  hoher  ist  als  alles,  was  diese  Welt  geben 
kann,  ist  uns  in  Wahrheit  zu  Theil  geworden." 

Twenty  years  later  Mr.  Henrici's  faith  and  that  of  the  So- 
ciety is  stronger  than  ever.  Some  Germans,  under  the  leader- 
ship of  Herren  Hoffmann  and  Hardegg,  had  formed  a  "Tempel- 
verein."  This  "Verein"  had  purchased  land  in  Palestine  and 
founded  a  colony  there,  in  preparation  for  the  coming  of  Christ. 
The  Harmonists  had  heard  of  the  movement,  and  unsolicited  had 
sent  money  to  aid  it.  With  a  second  donation,  Mr.  Henrici 
wrote :  „Wir  haben  nun  wieder  die  Freude  Ihnen  anzuzeigen,  dass 
der  Rath  unsrer  Aeltesten  auf  unser  Ersuchen  eine  weitere  Ver- 
willigung  von  $2000  gemacht  hat,  die  wir  Ihnen  in  zwei  Wechseln 
an  die  Herren  Hoffmann  und  Hardegg  hiemit  ubersenden,  mit 
dem  herzlichen  Wunsche,  dass  auch  diese  zweite  Liebesgabe 
dem  Herrn  wohlfallig  und  den  Empfangern  nutzlich  und  ange- 
nehm  sein  moge.     Immer  fiihlen  wir  keine  ganzliche  Gewissheit 


The  Harmony  Society.  61 

ob  die  rechte  Zeit  zur  Ausfiihrung  der  grossen  von  Gott  ver- 
heissencn  Sache  nun  gekommen.  —  Wir  sind  aber  von  dcr  Wich- 
tigkeit  der  gegenwartigen  Zeit  fest  iiberzeugt." 

In  1890,  at  the  time  when  the  Society  itself  was  seriously 
embarrassed  for  lack  of  ready  money,  it  loaned  $10,000  to  the 
Templeverein  in  Jerusalem  at  3%. 

The  desire  of  the  Society  to  serve  their  fellow  men  was 
not  an  empty  profession.  In  1894  Moritz  Frederick  told  in  court 
of  the  kindness  shown  to  him  by  the  Society,  when  he  was  a  com- 
plete stranger  to  them.  He  came  to  America  in  1847,  at  the  age 
of  30,  intending  to  go  as  a  Moravian  missionary  to  Wisconsin. 
On  the  way  from  Pittsburg  to  Milwaukee,  he  stopped  over  night 
at  the  hotel  at  Economy.  During  the  night  he  had  a  hemorrhage 
from  the  lungs.  While  lying  sick  at  the  hotel,  Mr.  Baker,  Mr. 
Henrici  and  Mr.  Lenz  came  to  see  him  and  said:  "No  he  can't 
stay  here,  he  is  too  weak.     We  must  get  him  another  place." 

Mr.  Baker  brought  his  sister,  who,  standing  by  the  sick 
man's  bedside,  said :  "I  will  take  him  into  my  house."  Accord- 
ingly, Mr.  Baker  and  sister  took  him  to  their  house,  and  there 
the  woman  nursed  him  for  three  years,  as  tenderly  as  a  mother. 

Money  came  to  him  from  Germany,  which  was  kept  for  him 
at  the  store  for  two  years.  W^hen  in  1850  he  was  able  to  travel, 
this  money,  together  with  a  gift  of  $25,  was  given  him,  and  he 
returned  to  Germany.  He  had  signed  the  constitution  in  1848. 
After  three  years  in  Germany,  he  returned  to  Pittsburg,  living 
there  for  32  years,  during  which  time  he  made  frequent  visits 
to  Economy,  always  being  welcomed  as  a  friend.  Mr.  Frederick 
was  married  to  an  invalid  wife.  When  his  money  was  all  gone, 
and  his  wife  dead,  he  went  to  Economy,  where  he  was  given  a 
pleasant  home.  He  rejoined  the  Society  in  1890,  re-signing  the 
articles.* 

This  is  only  a  typical  instance  of  a  kindness  which  the  So- 
ciety was  ever  ready  to  extend  to  the  needy.  The  Articles  of 
Association  gave  the  trustees  the  authority  to  devote  such  money 
to  benevolence  as  they  saw  fit.  Instances  of  the  exercise  of  this 
authority  throughout  the  history  of  the  Society  are  numerous. 
The   Western    Pennsylvania   Hospital   and    Mercy   Hospital,   at 


*  Fredericks.     Testimony,   Record  II,  p.  590. 


62  The  Harmony  Society. 

Pittsburg,  were  aided  substantially  by  the  Society.  Beaver  Col- 
lege, at  Beaver,  Pa.,  was  given  money,  and  io  acres  of  ground  at 
Beaver  Falls,  Pa.,  was  donated  as  a  site  for  Geneva  College.  In- 
dividuals and  institutions  were  constantly  appealing  to  the  So- 
ciety. They  were  heard,  and  if  the  cause  was  approved,  aid  was 
given.  The  spirit  in  which  these  and  like  donations  were  made, 
is  revealed  in  the  following  letter,  October  13,  1856,  of  Mr.  Hen- 
rici  to  Louise  Weil : 
„Liebe  Louise : 

Taglich  acht  Stunden  Unterricht  zu  erteilen,  ist  freilich  eine 
harte  Arbeit  fur  dich.  Allein  wenn  du  dich  so  dazu  stimmen 
kannst,  dass  du  es  gern  thust,  so  wird  es  dir  gewiss  nicht  scha- 
den.  Denn  du  bist  ohne  Zweifel  dazu  bestimmt,  durch  Unter- 
richt und  Erziehen  Gutes  zu  wirken,  und  hauptsachlich  auf  solche 
Weise  deinen  vollen  Betrag  zur  Menschenbildung  zu  machen. 
Gott  hat  dir  die  schonsten  Anlagen  dazu  gegeben ;  und  was  ist 
begliickender  als  dieselben  fur  das  Wohl  unseres  Bruderge- 
schlechts  gebrauchen  zu  diirfen? 

Kiimmere  dich  nicht  wenn  amerikanischer  Geldadelstolz  aut 
dich  herabsieht.  Was  hilft  dem  Reichen  sein  irdisches  Gluck, 
das  ihn  heute  ergotzt,  und  morgen  durch  seine  Verganglichkeit 
die  Schmerzen  der  Entbehrung  nur  desto  empfindlicher  erfahren 
lasst?  Darum  glucklich  der  Arme,  der  verborgen  die  untrug- 
lichen  Keime  eines  ewig  wachsenden  Reichtums  in  seinem  reinen 
wohlwollenden  Herzen  tragt.  Mogen  die  Thoren  seiner  spotten 
und  ihn  verlachen.  Er  wird  dort  lachen,  wo  keine  Tauschung 
seine  Freude  mehr  truben  und  keine  Verganglichkeit  seinem 
Glucke  mehr  eine  Grenze  setzen  darf  — 

Was  deine  Geltangelegenheiten  und  sonstigen  Bediirfnisse 
und  Erfordernisse  betriflt,  so  sei  jederzeit  ganz  kindlich  und  frei, 
und  besorge  nicht,  uns  durch  zu  vollstandige  Schilderung  deiner 
Umstande  und  Wichtigkeiten  zu  beleidigen  oder  zu  langweilen. 
Als  Verwalter  eines  Gememgutes,  das  durch  die  Handarbeit  und 
sauren  Fleiss  unserer  Gesellschaft  erworben  wurde,  fiihlen  wir 
uns  zwar  verpflichtet,  uberall  sorgfaltig  und  haushalterisch  in 
alien  Ausgaben  zu  verfahren,  und  auch  dich  zur  Sparsamkeit  und 
Verminderung  alles  Unnothigen  aufzumuntern.  Allein  wenn  du 
bei  aller  Vorsicht  und  Sparsamkeit  dennoch  unvermeidliche  Aus- 
gaben nicht  selbst  bestreiten  kannst,  so  lass  es  Herrn  Baker  mit 


The  Harmony  Society.  63 

lvindlicher  Zuversicht  erfahren,  und  wir  werden  dich  gewiss  nicht 
mangeln  lassen  — 

Deine  Familie  und  iibrigen  Freunde,  wie  auch  der  Schreiber 
dieses,  senden   ihre  herzlichen   Griisse,  und  hoffen   bald   wieder 
eine  recht  vollstandige  Xachricht  von  dir  zu  erhalten. 
Mit  aufrichtiger  Liebe, 

Dein  Freund, 

JACOB  HENRICI." 

George  Rapp  had  a  granddaughter,  Gertrude  Rapp.  She 
^as  born  in  the  Society,  educated  there  and  passed  all  her  life  in 
the  community.  That  such  training  and  life  did  produce  a  char- 
acter of  Christian  kindness  and  humility,  is  shown  in  her  letter 
to  Louise  Weil,  January  31,  1862.* 

,,Da  du  mit  so  viel  Dankbarkeit  dich  alles  empfangenen  Gu- 
ten  errinnerst,  so  ist  es  nicht  zu  Y.erwundern,  dass  du  auch  ein 
sehr  scharfes  Gedachtniss  fur  das  empiangene  Gegentheil  be- 
sitzest.  Moge  der  Geist  des  wahren  Christenthums  in  seinem 
Veredlungswerke  nicht  bei  uns  nachlassen.  bis  die  Liebe  alles 
Widrige  verschlungen  und  es  uns  zur  bleibenden  Xatur  und  zur 
Lust  geworden,  alles  uns  widerfahrene  Bose  mit  Gutem  zu  ver- 


*  Louisa  Weil,  to  whom  this  letter  was  written,  was  a  young  Swabian, 
who  about  1855  had  come  to  America  to  seek  her  fortune.  While  em- 
ployed as  a  servant  in  New  York,  she  fell  sick  with  pneumonia,  and  was 
taken  to  the  hospital  on  Blackwell's  Island.  As  she  was  recovering  from 
her  sickness,  Mr.  Baker  visited  the  hospital.  He  became  interested  in 
his  friendless  young  compatriot  and  took  her  with  him  to  Economy. 
There  she  remained  for  some  months,  until  she  was  restored  to  complete 
health.  Mr.  Baker  then  arranged  for  her  return  to  her  friends  in  Wur- 
temberg.  On  her  departure,  the  Society  gave  her  J100  and  individual 
members  made  her  personal  gifts.  Gertrude  Rapp  gave  her  silk  for  an 
apron  and  a  heavy  silk  handkerchief:  Mr.  Lenz.  a  fine  penknife:  Mr. 
Henrici.  some  instructive  books:  the  old  shoemaker  presented  her  with 
two  pairs  of  shoes  which  he  had  made  especially  for  her.  After  her  re- 
turn to  Germany,  she  kept  up  a  correspondence  for  some  years  with 
several  of  the  members,  and  received  further  financial  assistance  from 
the  Society.  She  gratefully  appreciated  the  kindness  shown  her.  and 
was  enthusiastic  in  her  admiration  for  her  Harmonist  friends.  Some 
years  later,  in  the  form  of  a  novel,  she  wrote  a  very  interesting  account 
of  her  experiences  in  America,  under  the  title:  "Gelautert.  Eine  Ge- 
schichte  vom  Auswandern."  (Second  edition,  Stuttgart,  1891.) 


64  The  Harmony  Society. 

eelten,  und  alle  uns  zugeftigte  Beleidigungen  so  herzlich  und 
voUkommen  zu  vergeben,  wie  wir  wiinschen,  dass  der  Herr  und 
alle  \  on  uns  Beleidigte  auch  uns  vergeben  mochten. 

Dash  du  meiner  so  ehrenvoll  in  deinem  vom  Publikum  so 
giinstig  aufgenommenen  Buchlein  gedachtest,  und  mich  dadurch 
zur  Oeffentlichkeit  brachtest,  verdient  dankbare  Annerkennung.. 
obgleich  ich  nie  so  etwas  erwartete,  suchte  oder  wunschte.  An 
gutem  Willen  hat  es  mir  zwar  nie  gefehlt,  nach  dem  Beispiel 
meiner  lieben  Eltern  und  Grosseltern  dem  Herrn  und  seiner  Ge- 
meine  und  Menschenfamilie  meine  ganze  Liebe  und  alle  meine 
Krafte  auf  Zeit  und  Ewigkeit  zu  weihen.  Aber  ach,  wie  unvoll- 
kommen  ist  bei  dem  reinsten  Wollen  das  rechte  Vollbringen. 
Und  wenn  ich  auch  das  Beste  gethan  hatte  oder  thun  wurde,  so 
ware  es  blosse  Schuldigkeit  und  verdiente  keines  Lobes. 

—  Dass  der  traurige  Biirgerkrieg,  der  in  manchen  Theilen 
unseres  Landes  schon  so  viel  Verheerung  angerichtet,  auch  uns 
schon  manche  Sorge  verursachte,  kannst  du  dir  wohl  denken- 
Doch  unser  Vertrauen  auf  die  schiitzende  Hand  Gottes,  ohne 
dessen  Willen  kein  Haar  von  unserem  Haupte  fallen  kann,  ist 
unbegrenzt.  Wir  haben  zwar  schon  viele  Beitrage  zu  machen 
gehabt,  und  es  werden  uns  noch  manche  Lasten  auferlegt  wer- 
den,  aber  es  ist  uns  im  Uebrigen,  Gott  sei  Dank,  noch  nicht  das 
genngste  Leid  geschehen." 


$  S 

:-  p 

o   w 


The  Harmony  Society.  ftfi 


CHAPTER  III. 


Harmony,  Pennsylvania,   1804-18 15. 

George  Rapp  was  born  November  1,  1757,  in  Iptingen,  Wiir- 
temberg,  the  son  of  Adam  Rapp,  a  peasant.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  weaving.  Like  many  of  his  neighbors,  he  also  engaged 
in  wine  growing. 

Early  in  life  he  became  deeply  interested  in  religion.  The 
established  Lutheran  church  in  his  native  land  had  lost  vitality. 
Its  doctrines  and  practices  did  not  satisfy  the  needs  of  the  strong 
and  thoughtful  man  who  felt  within  himself  the  struggle  be- 
tween his  good  and  bad  natures.  He  became  acquainted  with 
the  writings  of  Jacob  Boehme,  Schwedenborg,  Jung-Stilling  and 
other  Mystics  and  Pietists,  whose  teachings  made  a  deep  im- 
pression on  him.  He  identified  himself  with  the  Separatistic 
movement.  The  Separatists  of  Wurtemberg  believed  that  the 
true  Christian  must  live  a  life  of  self-denial  and  that  h>e  must 
suffer  ridicule  and  persecution  on  account  of  the  purity  of  his 
life.  They  regarded  the  established  clergy  as  hypocrites  and 
Pharisees.* 

They  asserted  the  right  of  laymen  to  study  and  in- 
terpret the  Bible  and  to  teach  to  others  the  truths  they  found 


'Poem    by    Jacob    Neff. 


66  The  Harmony  Society. 

in  it.  When  about  thirty  years  of  age,  Rapp  was  convinced  that 
he  had  discovered  a  purer  truth  than  that  preached  by  the  regu- 
lar clergy,  and  he  considered  it  his  duty  to  present  it  to  his  fel- 
low men.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  personality  and  a  powerful 
preacher.  Among  the  farmers  and  mechanics  of  his  neighbor- 
hood, intelligent  and  industrious  men,  he  gathered  a  congrega- 
tion of  devout  persons,  who  were  dissatisfied  with  the  established 
church  and  were  striving  like  himself  for  a  purer  religious  life. 
These  persons  suffered  some  persecution  on  account  of  their  re- 
ligion. The  government  interfered  with  their  plans  for  living 
in  the  manner  of  the  early  Christians  with  community  of  goods, 
and  their  religious  meetings  were  prohibited  at  the  instigation 
of  the  clergy.  Moreover,  Wurtemberg,  at  the  beginning  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  was  in  a  most  depressed  condition.  It 
seemed  as  if  the  total  ruin  of  the  land  were  approaching.  Many 
of  the  people  emigrated  to  Russia,  Hungary  and  America, 
„Beinahe  ein  Drittel  vom  Land  will  fort,  theils  nach  Russland, 
theils  nach  Ungarn  and  nach  Amerika.  Es  sieht  einem  ganz- 
lichen  Ruin  gleich."*  George  Rapp  decided  to  lead  his  congre- 
gation to  America. 

In  this  great  undertaking,  as  in  others  of  a  similar  nature  in 
later  years,  he  displayed  rare  judgment  in  making  his  plans  and 
great  ability  in  executing  them.  He  did  not  underestimate  the 
difficulties  of  such  an  undertaking.  He  told  his  people  of  the 
hardships  they  would  have  to  endure  on  the  voyage  and  in  found- 
ing a  settlement  in  America,  and  urged  those  who  were  not  pre- 
pared for  great  privations,  to  remain  at  home.  He  directed  those 
who  were  determined  to  follow  him,  to  sell  their  property  and 
prepare  themselves  for  the  journey.  He  himself,  with  money  of 
his  own  amounting  to  2,000  Gulden,  came  to  America  in  1803, 
to  choose  a  site  for  the  proposed  settlement.  He  left  behind  in 
charge  of  his  congregation  a  young  man  of  high  character  and 
ability,  Friedrich  Reichert,  who  in  America  was  adopted  by  him 
as  his  son,  and  is  known  in  the  history  of  the  Society  as  Frie- 
drich Rapp. 

The  easiest  route  for  emigrants  from  Wurtemberg  was  down 
the  Rhine  to  Holland,  and  from  there  to  America.     This  route 


♦Friedrich  Rapp  to  George  Rapp,  March  27,   1804. 


The  Harmony  Society.  67 

was  taken  by  George  Rapp.  July  31,  1803,  he  was  in  Amsterdam, 
from  where  he  sailed.  He  landed  at  Baltimore,  and  early  in 
September  he  was  in  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  considering  offers 
of  land  for  his  settlement.  He  wrote  to  his  congregation  from 
this  place,  describing  his  situation  and  his  very  favorable  im- 
pressions of  the  new  country : 
„Meinen  Gruss  zuvor,  vielgeliebte  Freunde. 

Lengester,  den  12.  September,  1803. 
Ich  habe  aus  Vorsorge  nochmal  schreiben  wollen,  um  euch 
Gewissheit  zu  geben  unseres  Berufs  halber.  Wir  sind  hier 
etliche  Tage  gewesen,  und  sind  Leute  zu  uns  gekommen,  die  uns 
viel  Land  angetragen  haben,  aber  alles  Land  liegt  im  Staat 
Pennsylvania,  den  Morgen  um  zwei  Thaler,  das  nach  unserem 
Geld  5  fl.  ist.  Nach  der  Karte  figts  an  dem  Suscehanne  Fluss, 
das  andere  bei  Connestoga,  an  einem  Stuck  9,060  Morgen,  den 
Morgen  um  5  fl.  Noch  ein  Stuck  weiter  hinauf,  bei  1,500  Mor- 
gen gegen  dem  Erie  See,  um  zwei  fl.  zu  verkaufen ;  alles  um  ein 
Termin  auf  sechs,  sieben,  acht  Jahr  zu  bezahlen.  Wir  wissesn  aber 
noch  nicht,  ob  wir  es  kaufen  oder  nicht, 'weil  wir  lieber  in  die 
Gegend  Virginien  waren.  Zu  Winchester,  am  Fluss  Branok,  bei 
Petowmack,  unterhalb  Cumperland,  im  Philadelphischen  Canton, 
sind  uns  bei  50,000  Morgen  angetragen  worden,  um  ein  wohl- 
feiles  Geld,  und  auf  lange  Termin  zu  bezahlen.  Wir  werden 
aber  das  Land  vorbesehen,  ehe  wir  was  kaufen. 

Das  Reisen  geht  mir  hart.  Ich  muss  besonder  Muth  fassen, 
und  doch  ist  mir  noch  mehr  bang  um  euch.  Ich  haUe  zwei 
Briefe  geschickt  von  Philadelphia  aus,  die  alles  enthalden  wer- 
den, wie  ihr  noch  zu  erhalden  habt.  — 

Ihr  sollt  Niemand  zureden,  dass  sie  mit  euch  solLen,  es  ist 
eine  entsetzlich  weite  und  gefahrliche  Reise.  Meine  Rezepte  und 
PabLere  bringt  mit  in  der  Lade,  und  sonst  die  Landkarten,  gute 
Bticher;  die  Bandelon  sind  hier  theuer  und  nicht  so  gut,  sonst 
kann  man  alles  haben  wie  bei  uns,  nur  theurer.  — 

Ich  und  der  Haller  reisen  in  Busch ;  wo  wir  hinkommen,  das 
weiss  Gott.  Wenn  ich  nur  ein  Jahr  alter  ware,  so  wiirde  viel 
gewonnen  sein.  Es  ist  hier  ein  sehr  reiches  Land,  alles  wachst 
genug,  mehr  ungebaut  als  gebaut,  derm  man  fragt  hier  nicht 
viel  nach  der  Arbeit.     Ich  komme  also  nicht  mehr  in  Deutsch- 


68  The  Harmony  Society. 

land ;  wenn  mein  Biirgerrecht  noch  ist,  so  will  ichs  vergeben ;  ich 
bin  schon  Burger  hier;  hier  hat  man  alles  gemein ;  es  dantzet 
alles  einander  auf  dem  Land ;  alle  Leute  sind  gut  gegen  einander, 
man  muss  sich  wundern  der  Freundschaft.  Wer  hier  arbeiten 
will,  kann  genug  Reichthum  erlangen.  Es  gibt  hier  keinen 
Armen,  ohne  der  mtissig  geht. 

Der  Morgen  Ackers  gibt  15  bis  20c  Tax,  so  ist  alles  das 
ganze  Jahr  bezahlt.  Zehenden  gibts  so  keinen.  Uebrigens  bin 
ich  bis  jetzt  gesund,  und  hoffe  es  auch  zu  bleiben,  bis  ihr  mich 
wieder  sehet,  zu  meinem  Trost  und  eurer  Freude.  Hier  ist  Re- 
ligionsfreiheit  genug,  hier  lacht  man  einen  aus,  wenn  man  von 
Partien  sagt ;  man  soil  denken  und  glauben  was  man  wolle,  nur  ein 
ehrlicher  Mann  sein,  das  halten  sie  hoch.  Vor  das  Exerzieren 
muss  man  einen  Thaler  des  Jahres  bezahlen,  wer  es  nicht  thun 
will,  so  ist  alles  gut. 

Das  Vieh  ist  hier  alles  grosser  als  bei  uns,  auch  die  P£erde; 
die.  Weiber  reiten  wie  die  Mann,  es  ist  hier  eins.  Vogel  gibt  es 
hier  wunderschone,  und  viele  grosse  moistens;  man  schiesst  sie 
zum  Essen,  jederman  darf  es  thun,  das  Wild  gehort  jederman. 

Uebrigens  hoffe  ich  eure  Standhaftigkeit  in  Christenthum. 
Hier  trifft  man  auch  gute  Seelen  an,  die  das  Wort  vom  X  nicht 
verachten,  welches  das  Zeichen  der  Nachfolge  Christi  ist  und 
bleibt,  welches  ich  auch  von  euch  hoffe.  Griisse  euch  alLe  noch- 
mals  herzlich. 

GEORGE  RAPP." 

After  inspecting  several  tracts  of  land,  George  Rapp  pur- 
chased 5,000  acres  in  Butler  County,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  Con- 
noquenessing  Creek,  about  twelve  miles  from  the  Ohio  River 
at  Beaver.  He  then  sent  for  his  people.  They  came  in  several 
companies.  The  ship  "Aurora"  brought  about  three  hundred 
persons  to  Baltimore,  July  4,  1804.  Another  party  of  two  hun- 
dred and  sixty  persons,  headed  by  Frederick  Rapp,  left  their 
homes  May  1,  1804,  and  arrived  on  the  ship  "Atlantic,"  at  Phila- 
delphia, in  August,  where  they  were  received  by  George  Rapp. 
The  remainder  of  the  people  came  in  a  third  ship,  the  "Marga- 
retta,"  but  these  settled  in.  Lycoming  County,  Pennsylvania,  un- 
der the  direction  of  Mr.  Haller,  who  had  been  Mr.  Rapp's  com- 
panion in  exploration. 


The  Harmony  Society.  69 

Jacob  Neff,  who  was  a  member  of  the  third  expedition, 
wrote  in  verse  an  account  of  the  journey.  He  compares  their  de- 
parture from  Germany  to  the  flight  of  the  children  of  Israel  from 
Egypt.  After  sailing-  down  the  Rhine,  they  stayed  nineteen  days 
at  Meiden,  near  Leyden.  They  left  Meiden  July  6,  1805,  with 
three  hundred  people  on  board,  not  all  of  whom  displayed  a  suf- 
ficient amount  of  brotherly  love.  After  thirteen  days  they 
touched  at  one  of  the  Dutch  islands,  and  took  on  supplies  for 
the  ocean  voyage.  Here  they  remained  for  eight  days,  waiting 
for  a  favorable  wind.  Finally  they  set  sail,  but  nine  days  later 
they  were  stopped  by  an  English  cruiser  and  taken  to  England. 
After  a  detention  of  twelve  days,  they  started  again.  Much 
rough  weather  was  encountered  and  the  pumps  had  to  be  manned 
night  and  day.  Sixty  days  after  leaving  England  they  sighted 
America.     Within  sight  of  land,  a  woman  died. 

„Auch  zuletzt  noch  an  dem  Rande 
Starb  ein  Weib  von  Unterlande, 
Sonsten  schlief  kein  Grosses  ein." 

Seven  children  died  on  the  voyage,  but  to  their  lo#s  the 
writer  is  easily  reconciled. 

„Ausser  sieben  kleiae   Kinder, 
An  die  auf  dem  Land  nicht  minder 
Auch  der  Tod  gehabt  ein  Recht, 
Die  ihr  zeitlich  Leben  borgten, 
Und  nun  unter  uns  gestorben." 

Tlie  writer  ends  his  account  of  the  voyage  with  a  modest 
disclaimer  of  either  prophetic  or  poetic  inspiration. 

,,Wie  es  ktinftig  noch  wird  gehen, 
Kann  ich  zum  Voraus  nicht  sehen, 
Dann  ich  bin  ja  kein  Prophet, 
Aber  wie  es  uns  ergangen, 
1st  gemeld,  nach  dem  Verlangen, 
Bin  deswegen  kein  Poet." 

Part  of  the  settlers  went  at  once  to  the  new  settlement. 
With  hard  work  they  built  their  town,  Harmony,  sustained  in 


jo  The  Harmony  Society. 

their  labors  by  religious  enthusiasm.  After  a  few  months  they 
were  joined  by  their  friends,  and  on  February  15,  1805,  the  Har- 
mony Society  was  formally  organized. 

Life  in  the  wilderness  was  hard.  But  they  were  kept  too 
busy  to  spend  much  time  in  repining,  and  their  leader  never  lost 
faith  in  himself  and  his  cause.  Fortunately  they  had  money 
enough  to  supply  themselves  with  the  necessaries  of  life.  They 
bought  supplies  at  first  from  Mr.  Haaga,  of  Philadelphia,  to 
whom  George  Rapp  sent  $600,  February  24,  1805 ;  $50,  May  20, 
and  $400,  June  20,  1805.  The  years  1805  and  1806  were  spent  in 
building  and  planting.  Their  expenses  had  been  large,  and  as  yet 
there  was  little  income.  By  May,  1806,  all  their  money  was 
gone. 

„Wir  werden  hart  gepresst.  Es  ist  schon  drei  Monat  unge- 
fahr  kein  Cent  mehr  in  der  Kasse,  und  leben  von  den  Geldern  des 
Stores  und  Gasthauses  gegen  700  Menschen.  —  Wir  machen  viel 
Frucht,  so  dass  di^s  Jahr  wir  nicht  mehr  kaufen  durfen."* 

"During  the  first  year,  150  acres  of  ground  were  cleared, 
from  40  to  50  log  houses  were  erected,  besides  a  house  of  wor- 
ship, grist  mill,  large  barn,  shops,  etc.  Next  year  they  cleared 
400  more  acres  of  land  and  erected  a  saw  mill,  tannery,  distillery, 
brick  storehouse,  and  planted  a  vineyard  of  four  acres.  They 
raised  grain  enough  for  themselves  and  had  600  bushels  to  sell, 
besides  3,000  gallons  of  whiskey.  In  1809  they  produced  6,000 
bushels  of  corn,  4,500  bushels  of  wheat,  4,500  of  rye,  5,000  of 
oats,  10,000  of  potatoes,  4,000  pounds  of  flax  and  hemp,  and  fifty 
gallons  of  sweet  oil.  During  this  same  year  they  made 
their  first  piece  of  woolen  cloth,  from  yarn  spun  by  hand.  In 
1810  they  erected  a  woolen  factory  for  the  manufacture  of  broad- 
cloth from  the  wool  of  the  merino  sheep,  which  they  were 
among  the  first  to  introduce  into  this  country.— In  1810  they 
consisted  of  one  hundred  and  forty  families,  numbering  in  all 
between  seven  and  eight  hundred  persons ;  they  had  2,000  acres 
of  land  under  cultivation;  they  had  a  large  stock  of  the  finest 
sheep  and  cattle,  and  in  every  department  of  labor  they  had  a 
large  surplus  for  sale,  after  supplying  their  own  wants.  They 
had  their  own  mechanics,  carpenters,  blacksmiths,  wagon  makers, 


♦George  Rapp  to  J.  Neff,  July  26,  1806. 


The  Harmony  Society.  yi 

coopers,  shoemakers,  hatters,  tailors,  masons,  wheelwrights,  sad- 
dlers, etc.,  who  serve  not  only  their  own  community,  but  also 
the  surrounding  country."* 

The  Society  was  a  religious  community,  and  provision  was 
early  made  by  its  founder  for  systematic  religious  instruction.  It 
was  his  custom  to  preach  to  the  whole  people  twice  on  Sabbath, 
and  once  on  Wednesday  evening.  For  social  intercourse  and 
mutual  improvement,  he  divided  the  whole  community  into  five 
classes,  composed  of  the  old  men,  the  old  women,  the  young 
men,  the  young  women,  and  the  more  youthful  of  both  sexes 
together.  Father  Rapp  made  it  his  practice  to  attend  the  weekly 
meetings  of  these  classses  throughout  his  long  life.** 

George  Rapp  was  about  six  feet  tall,  and  of  strong  constitu- 
tion, which  enabled  him  to  perform  great  labor  without  exhaus- 
tion, and  to  direct  his  community  with  unimpaired  faculties  to 
the  age  of  ninety  years.  His  bltie  eyes,  full  of  fire,  were  shaded 
by  heavy  eyebrows.  He  was  never  idle.  He  was  constantly  in 
the  fields  and  factories  directing  and  encouraging  his  people. 
He  liked  to  talk,  and  was  a  man  of  ready  wit.  What  he  said 
was  well  thought  out  and  clearly  expressed,  and  accompanied 
by  a  gesticulation  that  gave  it  emphasis.***  In  temporal  affairs 
he  was  extremely  practical.  He  was  an  enthusiast  only  in  re- 
ligion. His  conversation  centered  around  religion  and  the  con- 
duct of  life.  He  was  an  eloquent  preacher.  Of  a  kind  disposi- 
tion, he  could  rebuke  with  harshness  when  necessary.****  But 
he  would  not  allow  his  authority  to  be  questioned,  and  some- 
times asserted  it  in  a  tyrannical  manner.  In  1832  a  third  of  the 
members  had  withdrawn  in  a  body  and  had  then  tried  to  extort 
money  from  the  Society.  In  1846  one  of  the  members,  Joshua 
Nachtrieb,  had  a  conference  with  some  of  the  seceders  who 
wished  to  learn  if  they  had  any  prospect  of  getting  more  money. 
Mr.  Rapp  heard  of  the  meeting,  and  summoned  Nachtrieb  to  him. 
He  said :  "You  intended  to  raise  a  mob.  You  must  go  right  off 
and  leave  the  town."     Nachtrieb  pleaded  for  forgiveness.     He 


♦Williams.  The  Harmony  Society,  p.   54. 
**Williams,  ibid.,  p.  42. 

***Duke    Bernhard    von    Saxe-Weimar,  Reise  durch  Amerika.  p.  204. 
****Nordhoff,  Communistic  Societies  in  the  United  States,  p.  91. 


J2  The  Harmony  Society. 

said  he  was  sorry,  but  that  he  would  not  go.  "We  won't  have 
you.  You  must  go,"  said  Rapp.  A  few  nights  later,  when  the 
whole  Society  was  present  at  a  religious  meeting,  Mr.  Rapp  an- 
nounced from  the  pulpit:  "Joshua  Nachtrieb  and  some  others 
have  gone  out  and  conversed  with  the  friends  who  have  left  us. 
He  must  now  leave  the  Society;  we  cannot  use  such  men."  He 
then  asked  if  Nachtrieb  was  present.  "Yes,  father,  I  am  here," 
said  Nachtrieb.  He  said  he  was  sorry  if  he  had  done  anything 
wrong,  and  that  it  should  not  happen  again.  Rapp  answered: 
"Any  fool  can  say  that;  we  cannot  use  such  men.  You  must 
leave  the  Society.  You  must  be  off."  He  then  asked  the  So- 
ciety if  they  agreed  with  him.  They  said  they  did.  Nachtrieb 
went  away  two  days  later,  having  previously  received  from  Mr. 
Rapp  $200,  and  signed  a  statement  that  he  had  withdrawn  from 
the  Society.**  Mr.  Rapp's  severity  on  this  occasion  may  be  ex- 
plained by  his  great  age  and  by  his  bitter  feeling  against  those 
persons  who  had  left  the  Society  and  then  done  so  much  to  harm 
it.  The  best  evidence  of  the  strength  and  uprightness  of  his 
character  is  the  fact  that  he  shaped  the  lives  of  the  able  men  who 
were  leaders  of  the  Society  with  and  after  him,  and  that  the  re- 
spect and  reverence  which  they  always  had  for  him  was  as  great 
as  that  of  the  humblest  of  his  followers. 

The  log  houses  at  Harmony  were  soon  replaced  by  better 
buildings.  The  church,  hotel,  the  store  and  a  number  of  dwell- 
ings were  built  of  brick,  in  a  most  substantial  manner.  These 
buildings  are  still  in  first-class  condition. 

While  the  settlers  were  prosperous,  they  were  disappointed 
in  their  settlement  in  some  respects.  They  had  raised  grapes 
and  made  wine  in  Germany,  and  had  hoped  to  engage  in  that  in- 
dustry here.  But  they  found  their  land  poorly  adapted  to  the 
culture  of  the  vine.  As  their  manufacture  increased,  they  found 
difficulty  in  transporting  their  goods,  as  they  were  twelve  miles 
from  the  Ohio,  the  nearest  navigable  river.  They  accordingly 
decided  to  move,  and  in  1814  George  Rapp,  John  L.  Baker  and 
Lewis  Shriver  explored  the  western  country  in  search  of  a  new 
site  for  settlement.     They  found  a  suitable  place  on  the  Wabash, 


♦Wallace,  Jr.,  U.  S.  Circuit  Court.p.  71. 


WAGON,  BUII/f  AT  HARMONY,  IND.,  1821. 


The  Harmony  Society.  73 

in  Posey  County,  Indiana,  and  in  18 r 5  the  whole  Society  moved 
thither. 

They  had  lived  at  Harmony  for  ten  years.  During"  that 
time  one  hundred  members  of  the  Society  had  died.  Their 
bodies  rest  in  a  plot  of  ground,  about  one  hundred  and  twenty 
by  two  hundred  feet,  surrounded  by  a  stone  wall,  erected  after 
the  Society  had  moved  away.  As  was  their  custom,  the  graves 
are  not  marked.  The  only  tombstone  in  the  cemetery  is  one  for 
Johannes  Rapp,  the  son  of  George  Rapp.  This  is  not  in  position, 
but  is  lying  on  its  side  against  the  wall.  Over  the  portal  of  the 
gate  is  inscribed:  ,,Hier  ruhen  100  Mitglieder  der  Harmonie  Ge- 
sellschaft,  gestorben  1805 — 1815."  This,  together  with  the  sub- 
stantial brick  buildings  of  the  village,  is  all  the  memorial  the 
Harmonists  have  left  in  their  first  home  in  America. 


74  The  Harmony  Society. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


Harmony,  Indiana,  18 15- 182  5. 


George  Rapp  and  his  companions  in  the  journey  of  explora- 
tion in  1814,  found  a  site  for  a  new  settlement,  with  which  they 
were  greatly  pLeased.  It  was  a  tract  of  uncleared  land  of  some 
30.000  acres,  in  southwestern  Indiana,  mostly  in  Posey  County, 
on  the  Wabash  River,  70  miles  from  its  union  with  the  Ohio. 
The  land  was  fertile  and  well  watered.  It  was  so  level  that  there 
was  no  good  water  power,  but  this  want  was  remedied  by  buy- 
ing a  steam  engine  for  the  mill.  In  fact  they  were  pioneers  in 
introducing  steam  power  for  milling  purposes  in  that  western 
country.  They  could  always  reach  the  Ohio  by  flat-boat,  and 
the  Wabash  itself  was  navigable  for  steamboats  at  high  water. 
George  Rapp,  February  8,  1814,  in  a  letter  to  Frederick  Rapp,  de- 
scribes his  new  purchase  thus : 

„Ob  es  schon  jetzt  miserabel  genug  aussieht,  so  sieht  das 
Auge  der  Hoffnung  grosse  und  schone  Plane,  Schafweide  ist  ge- 
nug da,  aus  lauter  Hochland  mit  schonen  frischen  Bachwasser 
durchflossen,  und  wir  diirften  unser  Lebtag  den  Fuss  nicht  liber 
einen  Stein  heben,  und  Felder  und  Wiesen  so  eben  als  der  Stu- 
benboden,  und  doch  Fall  zum  Wasserablaufen.  Eine  Dampf- 
maschine  musst  du  doch  haben,  wenn  du  anders  wirst  die  Manu- 
factur  fortfiihren." 

That  the  Society  had  prospered  greatly  at  Harmony,  Pa.,  is 
shown  by  their  ability  to  buy  so  large  a  quantity  of  land  in  In- 
diana. From  May  6,  1814,  to  October  31,  1816,  they  bought 
24,734  acres  for  $61,050;  to  May  18,  1819,  2,867  acres  for  $7,318.64 ; 
to  August  1,  1824,  1,444  acres  for  $2,841.80. 

Most  of  this  land  was  bought  from  the  United  States  land 
office  at  $2  an  acre.  A  small  portion  of  it  was  bought  from  pri- 
vate individuals,  at  prices  ranging  from  $8.65^4  an  acre  for  a 
tract  of  288  acres  from  John  Grayson,  September  6,  1814,  to  $2  an 
acre  for  70  acres  bought  of  John  Caldwell,  October  31,  1816. 
They  later  sold  some  land  and  donated  100  acres  for  th/e  site  of 


The  Harmony  Society.  75 

the  town  of  Springfield,  but  in  1820  they  still  had  remaining 
26,993  acres;  25,208  acres  in  Posey  County,  1,479  acres  in  White 
County,  and  155  acres  in  Gibson  County. 

George  Rapp  had,  in  June,  1814,  gone  ahead  with  a  hundred 
of  his  followers  to  prepare  the  new  settlement  for  the  habitation 
of  the  Society.  The  town  they  built  was  calLed  "Harmonic" 
Frederick  Rapp  was  left  in  charge  at  Harmony,  Pa.  He  was 
now  40  years  of  age,  and  had  acquired  confidence  in  himself  as  a 
man  of  business.  The  only  thing  he  was  afraid  to  manage  was 
a  steam  engine.  He  sold  the  Harmony  establishment  to  Mr. 
Ziegler  for  $100,000,  which  he  estimated  to  be  a  profit  of  $8,000. 
May  8,  1815,  he  wrote  from  Pittsburg  to  George  Rapp: 

„Ein  Mann  namens  Ziegler  kaufte  sie  (die  Harmonie),  sie 

gab  $8,000  profit Ich  habe  kein  Geld  in  Hand  verlangt,  weil 

ich  nicht  sehe,  dass  wir  es  brauchen.  — 

Von  der  Art  habe  ich  alle  Tage  neue  Geschafte,  und  bin  ein 
rechter  Weltmann,  nichts  setzt  mich  mehr  in  VerLegenheit  als 
das  Steam  Engine,  ich  habe  noch  keines  accordiert  — es  ist  so 
sehr  weit  von  der  Hand  wenn  es  aus  order  kommt,  werde  aber 
doch  genothigt  sein,  nachsten  Freitag  zu  accordieren.  —  Dass 
Bonaparte  wieder  am  Thron  in  Frankreich  ist,  wirst  in  der 
Zeitung  gesehen  haben,  es  ist  bestatigt  dass  es  wahr  ist,  mochte 
der  Himmel  der  alten  Mutter  den  Untergang  bestimmt  haben.  — 
Es  ist  eine  miserable  Gegend  hier  —  es  ist  gut  dass  wir  fort 
kommen."  F.  R. 

A  few  weeks  later  he  left  Harmony  with  the  remainder  of 
the  members.  They  embarked  on  the  Ohio  at  Beaver,  and  after 
a  fourteen  days'  voyage,  they  arrived  in  good  shape  at  their  new 
home.  Frederick  Rapp  was  well  satisfied  with  the  change,  he 
was  pleased  with  the  progress  the  new  colony  had  already  made, 
and  hoped  for  great  succes  in  agriculture  and  manufacture.  Soon 
after  his  arrival,  he  wrote  to  David  Shields,  July  7,  1815: 

"Respected  friend : — We  have,  after  a  pleasant  voyage  of  14 
days,  arrived  in  good  health  with  our  people.  I  found  my  father 
and  all  my  friends  well,  and  satisfied  with  the  change  we  made, 
finding  the  land  excellent  and  beautiful.  They  have  done  im- 
mense work,  and  already  125  acres  are  in  corn  8  to  10  feet  high. 
Harvest  began  the  last  week  in  June.  W^heat  and  rye  proved 
very  good.     It  appears  that  this  country  in  a  few  years  will  be- 


y6  The  Harmony  Society. 

come  in  regard  to  cultivation  of  small  grain  and  commerce,  one 
of  the  most  important  parts  of  the  Union.  The  land  is  taken  up 
and  settled  very  fast.  On  the  4th  of  July,  150  persons  have  come 
into  our  town,  all  living  within  from  6  to  12  miles  of  us. 

The  climate  is  somewhat  warmer  here  than  in  Butler  County, 
yet  is  is  not  so  extraordinary  hot  as  the  people  think  there.  The 
greatest  heat  ascended  only  to  950.  A  constant  and  pleasant 
zephyr  from  the  west  renders  the  air  cool  and  moderates  the  heat, 
more  so  here  than  in  your  country.  The  water  is  very  good. 
Our  vineyard  and  orchard  grow  wonderfully,  and  give  hopes 
that  this  country  is  well  calculated  for  them.  Our  machines  lie 
motionless  till  fall.  We  are  all  engaged  in  building  houses  and 
clearing  land.  Store  goods  are  scarce  and  sell  very  well  here. 
Silver  is  plenty  in  circulation,  and  might  get  a  great  quantity  for 
Eastern  notes  with  several  procent  premium. — My  father  finds 
himself  right  well  here  and  makes  you  his  cheerful  compliments. 
My  sister  is  well  also,  and  sends  her  respects  to  Miss  Shields. 

With  great  esteem,  I  am, 

Your  sincere  friend, 

FREDERICK  RAPP." 

But  the  settlers  were  soon  attacked  by  the  scourge  of  that 
rich  low  lying  region,  the  fever  and  ague.  August  15,  181 5, 
Frederick  Rapp  wrote : 

"Painful  are  the  reports  of  violent  prevailing  sickness  from 
every  quarter.  Many  of  the  people  are  taken  with  high  fevers. 
Some  prove  dangerous.  The  same  complaints  are  frequent 
among  our  neighboring  settlers.  My  father  and  family  are  well. 
I  myself  enjoy  tolerably  good  health." 

But  with  the  approach  of  winter,  the  fever  left  them,  their 
health  became  better  and  their  courage  returned.  In  his  letter  of 
December  23,  181 5,  to  John  Woods,  Frederick  Rapp,  shows  the 
spirit  of  the  true  pioneer  in  his  delight  in  conquering  the  wilder- 
ness. 

"This  climate  seems  to  be  very  suitable  for  raising  wine, 
and  we  shall  strive  to  supply  the  western  world  with  this  article 
in  a  few  years,  and  so  we  do  not  regret  in  any  way  the  change 
which  we  have  made.  As  our  principles  are  both  in  a  religious 
and  political  way  to  serve  men,  we  have  more  opportunity  here 


The  Harmony  Society.  yy 

than  we  had  in  Pennsylvania  to  make  of  a  wild  country,  fertile 
fields  and  gardens  of  pleasure." 

In  a  letter  of  February  2,  1816,  to  John  Purviance,  he  de- 
scribes their  estate  more  fully,  expresses  his  confidence  in  the 
future  of  the  west,  and  at  the  Fame  time  is  not  unmindful  of  the 
critical  state  of  affairs  in  Europe. 

"Our  land  is  the  best  he  has  seen  in  America,  in  quality  and 
situation.  Has  all  kinds  of  useful  timber,  abounds  in  fine  springs, 
free  stone  for  buildings,  fine  clay  for  bricks  and  excellent  for  pot- 
tery. Six  miles  from  here  on  our  own  land  is  good  iron  ore,  where 
a  furnace  may  be  built,  good  navigation  at  all  seasons.  This  will 
be  in  a  few  years  the  most  flourishing  county  in  the  United 
States,  not  only  in  agriculture,  but  also  in  commerce  and  domes- 
tic manufacturer.  The  country  is  being  settled  rapidly.  The 
climate  good.  The  highest  temperature  in  summer  was  960,  the 
lowest  in  winter,  8°. 

"We  enjoy  on  an  average  better  health  than  in  Pennsylvania, 
many  of  us  had  the  ague  and  fever  last  fall,  but  that  may  be  at- 
tributed to  change  of  climate.  Men  of  learning  and  good  moral 
character  are  very  desirable  in  this  country,  that  the  old  natives 
might  be  brought  to  better  order  through  them.  We  have  made 
a  pretty  good  beginning  to  a  new  settlement,  and  it  is  admired 
by  everybody,  what  the  industry  of  a  nation  which  lives  in  peace 
and  union  can  do  in  a  short  time. 

"They  have  for  three  months  hired  40  to  50  hands  in  clearing 
land,  and  pay  them  $6  to  $8  an  acre.  They  have  800  acres  under 
fence ;  every  family  has  a  good  log  house.  They  will  build  bet- 
ter houses  this  summer.  The  political  world  in  Europe  has  suf- 
fered great  change  and  will  bear  greater  ones  in  a  short  time 
more  than  ever,  as  th^e  spirit  of  the  time,  which  is  suppressed  at 
present,  will  get  stronger  and  break  out  unexpected  with  might 
and  finish  his  plan." 

The  settlement  made  wonderful  progress.  Their  land  was 
soon  cleared  by  themselves  and  hired  men,  the  fertile  soil  yielded 
varied  and  abundant  crops,  and  mills  and  factories  were  soon  in 
operation.  An  inventory  of  the  buildings  and  real  estate  at  Har- 
mony, January  16,  1819,  will  convey  an  idea  of  the  variety  and 
extent  of  their  industries: 


78  The  Harmony  Society. 

150  log  dwelling  houses $10,500.00 

1  frame  tavern  and  stable 1,000.00 

Mr.  Rapp's  brick  house 3,500.00 

1  brick  storehouse 2,000.00 

1  brick  shoe  and  tailor  shop 2,000.00 

1  brick  house 2,500.00 

1   frame  steam  mill 1,000.00 

1  mill  and  machinery 1,000.00 

1   steam  engine 6,000.00 

1  wool  factory,  frame 800.00 

1  brick  dye  house 400.00 

2  frame  graneries 3,000.00 

1  barn  with  threshing  machinery. . .  .  2,000.00 

2  barns   2,000.00 

3  sheep   houses 1,000.00 

9  stables 950.00 

2  still  houses  with  machinery 1,500.00 

1  brewery  and  machinery 500.00 

1  frame  church 1,800.00 

3  houses 1,800.00 

1  tan  yard  and  vats 500.00 

1  hatter's  shop 150.00 

1  soap  boiling  shop 225.00 

I  blacksmith  shop 200.00 

1  wagon  maker's  shop 175.00 

1    carpenter   shop 200.00 

1  cooper  shop 200.00 

1  turner  and  tinner  shop 100.00 

1  weave  shop 100.00 

1  stocking  weaving  shop 60.00 

I  turner  shop 50.00 

1  potter  shop  and  oven 150.00 

1  storehouse  and  lot  in  Zelinpole. . . .  700.00 

1  house  and  lot  in  Springfield 949.00 

1  doctor  shop  and  laboratory 210.00 

1  oil  and  hemp  mill 500.00 

2  saw  mills  by  water 1,000.00 

1  sadler  shop 120.00 

1  rope  maker  shop 25.00 


The  Harmony  Society.  79 

2  brick  yards  and  ovens 150.00 

1  frame  water  mill  and  machinery.  . .  .  5,000.00 

24  corn   cribs 310.00 

27,662  acres  land  cost 68,369.59 

640  acres  sold i>535-49 

1,450  acres  cleared  land 17,400.00 

Cleared   farms    2,472.19 

$140,830.29 
Amount  due  on  land 1,255.17 


$139,575.12 


The  products  of  their  fields  and  forests  sold  in  1818  for 
$13,141.83,  in  1819  for  $12,441.83.  These  products  were :  Wheat, 
corn,  oats,  hides,  fur,  butter,  wax,  horses,  cattle,  hogs,  shingles, 
sugar,  linen,  tobacco,  cheese,  flax  seed,  hops,  hemp. 

To  these  may  be  added  as  raw  products  between  1817-1820: 
Rye,  barley,  deer  skins  (in  1817,  722;  1819,  645  skins),  hog  skins, 
bear  skins,  wolf  skins,  horsehides,  raccoons,  otters,  muskrats, 
beavers,  minx,  rabbits,  pork,  venison,  hog  fat,  tallow,  quills,  fea- 
thers, eggs,  bristles,  bacon,  thread,  tar,  powder,  cloth,  bags, 
honey,  baskets,  grass  seed,  wool,  sheep,  flax,  geese,  cider,  apples, 
chairs  and  yarn. 

They  sold  their  products  and  manufactured  articles  through- 
out the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  valleys,  from  Pittsburg  to  Xew 
Orleans.  At  some  places  they  had  stores  of  their  own,  as  at 
Harmony  and  Shawneetown.  At  other  places  they  disposed  of 
their  goods  through  agents.  Abashai  Way  &  Co.  were  their 
agents  in  Pittsburg;  Mr.  Phillips,  in  Louisville;  John  Caldwell 
managed  their  store  in  Shawneetown ;  they  dealt  with  Frederick 
Dent  in  St.  Louis. 

It  had  been  the  intention  of  the  Society  to  build  a  steam- 
boat of  their  own,  immediately  on  going  to  Indiana,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  transporting  their  own  goods  to  market,  but  for  some 
reason  this  steamboat  was  not  built  until  1824.  However,  they 
sometimes  sent  flat-boat  cargoes  from  Harmony  as  far  as  New 
Orleans.  In  1823  Jonathan  Lenz  took  such  a  cargo,  valued  at 
$1,369,  to  New  Orleans.     This  cargo  consisted  of  39  kegs  of  lard, 


80  The  Harmony  Society. 

ioo  kegs  of  butter,  680  bushels  of  corn  and  oats,  40  barrels  of 
whiskey,  88  barrels  of  flour,  103  barrels  of  pork,  32  oxen  and  16 
hogs. 

Their  manufactured  goods  were  of  superior  quality  and  com- 
manded higher  prices  than  similar  articles  manufactured  by  less 
reliable  parties. 

The  following  letter  from  Frederick  Rapp  to  Peter  Bass,  of 
Columbia,  Mo.,  January  2,  1823,  gives  wholesale  prices  of  arti- 
cles manufactured  by  them  :  : 
"Mr.  Peter  Bass, 

Columbia,  Mo. 

By  last  mail  I  received  your  favor  of  the  7th  ult.,  stating  that 
you  had  purchased  in  Nashville  some  goods  manufactured  in  this 
place  and  were  pleased  with  them.  The  objection  of  their  being 
too  high  has  scarcely  ever  failed  to  cease  with  those  who  wore 
them. 

The  following  are  our  wholesale  prices  of  different  articles 
manufactured  here,  to  wit : 

1st  quality  blue,  black,  etc.,  broadcloth,  per  yard, $7-$8 

2d  quality  blue,  black,  etc.,  broadcloth,  per  yard, $5~$6 

3d  quality  blue,  black,  etc.,  broadcloth,  per  yard, $3-$4 

4th  quality  blue,  black,  etc.,  broadcloth,  per  yard, $2-$2.75 

Cassinets  of  various  mixtures,  per  yard, $.75~$i.25 

Flannels  of  various  colors,  per  yard $-50-$-75 

Fur  hats,  per  dozen, $36-^54 

Merino  wool  hats,  per  dozen, $18 

Common  wool  hats,  per  dozen $9-50 

Domestic  cotton  goods  made  here : 

Plaids,  striped,  Cambray  checks,  etc.,  per  yard, $.25~$.5o 

Shirting,  per  yard, $.20-$.2& 

Sheetings,   per  yard $.28-$-37 

Boots  and  shoes  of  all  sorts  at  various  prices. 

Woolen  socks,  per  dozen, $6-$9 

Woolen  stockings,  per  dozen, $12-18 

Saddles  from  $9  to  $18  per  piece." 

The  manufacturing  enterprises  met  with  unexpected  diffi- 
culties. When  they  first  went  to  Indiana,  specie  was  plenty,  but 
in  a  few  years  this  disappeared  and  the  depreciated  state  paper 
currency  was  almost  the  only  money  to  be  had.     This  money 


The  Harmony  Society.  8 1 

the  Society  sometimes  refused  to  take,  declining  orders  for  goods 
rather  than  accept  such  pay  for  them.  Then,  too,  the  demand 
for  their  woolen  goods  was  not  so  great  as  anticipated,  as  im- 
ported woolens  could  be  bought  at  a  lower  price.  In  1815  Fred- 
erick Rapp  had  accepted  Kentucky  state  paper  at  37>2C  per  dol- 
lar. Later  he  refused  to  take  it  at  all.  In  1819  he  wrote  to  A. 
Way  &  Co. : 

"Wors^  than  robbery  is  yet  the  depreciation  of  state  paper 
currency,  whereby  one  saves  money  robbed  only  of  its  value. 
Bank  bills  at  par  or  moderate  discounts  with  you,  or  in  the  cities 
are  few  in  number." 

The  next  year  he  complained  that  the  scarcity  of  money  in 
the  western  states  was  continually  getting  worse.  Frederick 
Rapp  was  not  the  man  to  submit  quietly  to  these  industrial  evils. 
He  had  ideas  as  to  how  to  remedy  them,  and  he  strove  to  have 
them  adopted.  In  1820  he  made  suggestions  as  to  a  Property  Bill, 
which  had  been  proposed  in  the  Legislature.  In  1823  he  sub- 
mitted a  memorial  to  the  Legislature  in  regard  to  the  state  bank, 
and  wrote  to  prominent  persons  requesting  their  influence  to  have 
a  law  passed  to  remedy  the  evils  which  he  pointed  out.* 

To  exclude  foreign  manufactures,  he  advocated  a  high  tariff. 
By  that,  home  industries  wrould  be  encouraged  and  a  market  pro- 
vided for  farm  products.  The  depressed  condition  of  the  farmer, 
resulting  from  the  importation  of  foreign  wares,  is  depicted  by 
him  in  a  letter  to  Samuel  Patterson,  February  12,  1824: 

"It  is  very  desirable  that  the  efforts  of  those  patriotic  mem- 
bers now  in  Congress,  should  meet  with  success  in  their  endeav- 
ors to  lay  heavy  duties  on  all  such  foreign  commodities,  whfch 
could  be  manufactured  in  our  own  country  if  the  undertakers 
were  better  supported  by  the  govenment.  Where  else  may  the 
now  languishing  farmer  look  for  a  market  with  any  certainty,  to 
sell  his  surplus  products,  but  to  numerous  and  extensive  manu- 
facturing establishments  within  our  own  country.  While  the 
latter  are  forsaken,  the  farmer  after  toils  and  perils  in  quest  of  a 
market  for  the  fruits  of  his  industry  arrives  at  his  journey's  end, 
where  the  great  influx  from  every  direction  has  glutted  the  stores 
and  warehouses  with  superabundance,  has  the  misfortune  of  see- 


*Letter  November  2,  1823,  to  Moses  Tabb  and  Charles  Dewey. 


82  The  Harmony  Society. 

ing  his  last  hope  vanishing  and  himself  doomed  to  sacrifice  his 
cargo  and  return  home  with  an  almost  empty  purse  and  broken 
heart  to  his  needy  and  disappointed  family.  Such  are  the  pic- 
tures we  daily  witness,  and  regret  that  the  means  to  better  their 
condition  is  seemingly  denied  to  them.  May  a  wise  policy  gov- 
ern in  future  our  legislators  to  promote  the  welfare  of  the 
country." 

The  demand  for  woolen  goods  was  so  unsatisfactory  that  in 
1819  it  was  uncertain  whether  they  would  continue  their  manu- 
facture.* The  next  year  affairs  were  in  a  still  worse  condition. 
Almost  every  one  in  the  western  country  was  financially  em- 
barrassed. There  was,  very  little  money  in  circulation  and 
scarcely  any  that  passed  at  par.  They  had  almost  stopped  the 
woolen  factory,  as  there  was  so  little  sale  for  cloth,  and  were 
giving  most  of  their  attention  to  agriculture  and  mechanical 
branches  connected  with  it.  But  notwithstanding  the  general 
depression,  they  themselves  had  not  yet  felt  hard  times,  as  they 
were  used  to  a  modest  living  and  had  plenty  of  supplies.** 

In  the  census  report  of  this  year,  1820,  Rapp  stated  that 
$50,000  was  the  market  value  of  the  goods  manufactured  annu- 
ally, and  of  their  trade  he  wrote : 

"Of  its  past  condition  not  much  can  be  said,  as  only  five 
years  have  elapsed  since  the  Society  wholly  settled  this  place, 
where,  upon  their  arrival,  the  first  stick  was  yet  to  Ue  cut  in  an 
uninhabited  thick  timbered  wilderness ;  when,  however,  the  in- 
creasing population  of  the  surrounding  country  soon  offered  fair 
prospects  to  the  various  branches  of  establishments  the  Society 
was  erecting;  but  at  the  present  day  those  prospects  are  repulsed 
in  a  great  measure  by  the  embarrassing  circumstances  of  pecuni- 
ary matters  and  no  demand  for  nearly  all  the  different  fabrica- 
tions. 

Among  all,  that  of  the  woolen  factory  meets  with  the  great- 
est neglect  and  discouragement  owing  to  the  vast  prejudice  pre- 
vailing against  domestic  woolen  goods." 

When  manufacturing  did  not  pay,  they  devoted  their  ener- 
gies to  agriculture.     And  here  there  was     no     disappointment. 


♦Letter  to  A.  Way  &  Co.,  July  31,  1819. 
**Frederick  Rapp  to  Stephen  Stone,  March  11,  1820. 


The  Harmony  Society.  83 

Their  fertile  land  yielded  them  more  abundant  crops  than  in 
Pennsylvania.  For  wool  alone,  the  country  was  not  so  well 
adapted,  as  the  sheep  were  smaller  and  the  wool  of  an  inferior 
quality.* 

July  9,  1819,  Frederick  Rapp  wrote  to  David  Shields  (Se- 
wickley)  of  the  condition  of  the  Society: 

"The  people  in  Harmonie  and  the  vicinity  are  well.  We 
have  nearly  finished  gathering  an  abundant  crop  of  wheat,  rye 
and  barley,  and  corn  looks  very  promising.  There  is  a  better 
prospect  for  wine  this  season  than  ever  we  had  before.  Should 
Harmonie,  Ind.,  be  honored  by  your  visit,  I  should  be  able  to 
treat  you  with  Wabash  wine." 

In  a  letter  of  June  27,  1823,  to  Mr.  William  Young,  he  gave  a 
still  more  glowing  account: 

"It  is  now  fall  harvest  with  us,  and  we  are  actively  engaged 
in  reaping  wheat ;  the  crop  will  only  be  middling,  but  the  quality 
very  good.  Our  rye  is  all  cut ;  it  turned  out  very  well  this  year, 
barley,  more  yielding  than  ever,  is  already  gathered  in  the  barns. 
Corn  and  oats  look  very  promising!  We  have  also  a  very  fine  pros- 
pect for  wine,  and  our  orchards  are  heavy  loaded  with  fruit.  The 
builders  of  our  town  are  progressing  rapidly  in  rearing  up  good 
houses  for  the  benefit  of  its  inhabitants,  whose  industry  is  every- 
where blessed  with  plenty,  and  their  united  efforts  crowned  with 
success.  They  have  by  constant  application  converted  the  wil- 
derness into  pleasant  gardens  and  extensive  fields,  and  those  en- 
gaged in  the  creation  of  them  are  conscious  of  having  done  their 
duty  and  cheerfully  happy." 

Owing  to  prudent  management,  in  spite  of  the  hard  times, 
the  Society  prospered  financially  and  accumulated  large  sums  of 
money.  In  1819  it  was  worth  $368,690.92.  In  1823,  in  response 
to  an  inquiry,  they  stated  that  they  were  willing  to  loan  money 
to  the  State  of  Indiana,  at  6%  interest.  The  next  year,  they 
were  able  to  pay  for  their  new  estate  at  Economy,  Pa.,  and  the 
expense  of  moving  to  it,  before  they  had  received  any  money 
from  the  sale  of  their  Indiana  property.  After  taking  stock  of 
their  property  at  the  time  of  this  sale,  Frederick  Rapp  stated  that 


*Letter  of  Frederick  Rapp  to  Geo.  H.  Miiller,  May  14,  1819. 


84  The  Harmony  Society. 

his  expectations  of  the  prosperous  condition  of  the  Society  had 
not  been  disappointed. 

Frederick  Rapp  was  a  large,  handsome  man.  He  unselfishly 
devoted  his  great  business  talents  to  the  common  good.  To  him 
more  than  any  one  else  was  due  the  successful  direction  of  the 
Society's  affairs.  His  personal  qualities,  as  well  as  his  promi- 
nence as  a  manufacturer,  gave  him  a  wide  influence  in  the  State 
of  Indiana.  As  a  delegate  from  Gibson  County,  he  was  one  of 
the  forty-one  members  of  the  constitutional  convention,  which 
met  at  Corydon,  from  June  10  to  June  29,  1816,  and  framed  the 
first  constitution  of  the  State.*  He  was  one  of  eight  commis- 
sioners appointed  by  the  Legislature,  which  in  1820  selected  the 
site  of  Indianapolis  as  the  permanent  seat  of  the  State  govern- 
ment.** He  took  an  active  interest  in  politics  and  his  support 
was  much  sought  after  by  candidates  for  office.***  He  re- 
peatedly urged  the  Legislature  to  pass  such  laws  as  he  thought 
would  benefit  the  community. 

Frederick  Rapp's  correspondence  reveals  him  as  a  man  not 
only  of  good  judgment,  but  of  refinement  and  tender  sympathy. 
He  could  administer  a  rebuke  in  a  forcible  manner,  but  without 
bitterness,  even  with  kindness.  One  of  their  agents,  Thomas  I. 
Hawkes,  had  defaulted  with  money  due  the  Society.  June  28, 
1823,  Frederick  Rapp  wrote  him : 

"Mr.  Phillips  told  me  with  regret  that  you  had  left  Louis- 
vilLe  early  last  fall  and  had  gone  down  the  river  after  selling  the 
cloths  I  sent  you  at  auction,  and  receiving  the  greater  part  of  the 
value  for  them,  which  really  surprised  me  to  hear,  and  I  immedi- 
ately anticipated  a  disastrous  result  as  a  just  punishment  for 
your  temerity  in  suffering  yourself  to  be  misled  by  a  false  pros- 
pect of  gain  at  the  risk  of  honor  and  confidence  of  your  friends. 

"Your  letter  of  the  20th  of  May,  from  St.  Francisville,  is  just 
received.  I  am  truly  astonished  that  my  anticipation,  not  my 
wish,  has  been  so  soon  verified.     Still  I  feel  sorry  for  your  mis- 


*Legislative  and  State  Manual  of  Indiana  for  1899-1900,  page  1232. 

♦♦Bolton,  Early  History  of  Indianapolis,  in  Publications  of  the  Indiana 
Historical  Society,  Vol.  I,  p.  153. 

♦♦♦The  statement  that  Frederick  Rapp  was  a  member  of  the  legisla- 
ture is  incorrect.  This  statement  occurs,  among  other  places,  in  Lock- 
wood:  The  Harmony  Communities,  p.  39. 


The  Harmony  Society.  85 

fortunes,  and  hope  that  they  may  be  an  everlasting  remembrance 
and  lesson  to  you  henceforth  to  appreciate  troe  friends,  and  spare 
them  the  regret  of  having  misplaced  their  confidence.  I  heartily 
wish  you  may  soon  retrieve  your  lost  health,  property  and  repu- 
tation in  the  circle  of  your  friends.  Should  your  expectation  be 
realized,  or  better  success  reward  your  future  efforts,  and  enable 
you  to  pay  me,  you  may  deposit  the  money  with  Mr.  Phillips, 
at  Louisville,  in  whose  care  I  have  left  your  accounts." 

When  Frederick  Dent,  of  St.  Louis,  failed  to  meet  his  obli- 
gations, he  wrote  to  him  in  the  following  superior  manner,  No- 
vember 4,  1824: 

''After  the  return  of  R.  L.  Baker  to  St.  Louis,  I  have  been 
informed  that  he  did  not  succeed  in  collecting  of  you  the  amount 
of  those  two  notes  due  me  in  consequence  of  your  inability  at 
this  time,  and  that  you  kept  your  active  capital  employed  in  a 
trade  up  the  river,  by  means  of  which  you  expected  to  be  able 
to  pay  me  next  summer. 

"Since  I  am  not  inclined  to  disemploy  any  industrious  mem- 
ber of  society,  by  plucking  away  the  instruments  of  his  dili- 
gent pursuits,  I  have  concluded  to  wait  and  hope  you  will  not 
fail  in  your  performance  this  time. 

"To  your  proposition  in  regard  of  selling  to  you  a  quantity 
of  our  manufactured  goods  on  a  credit,  I  do  not  feel  disposed  to 
accede.  Since  our  Society  is  changing  its  settlement,  we  do  not 
wish  to  continue  transactions  of  this  kind,  but  rather  to  bring  all 
to  a  close.  On  the  subject  of  opening  a  store  at  St.  Louis,  I 
would  have  more  favorabLe  ideas,  since  it  might  be  advantageous 
to  our  establishment  and  manufacturing  enterprises.  Should  you 
visit  this  neighborhood,  please  give  us  a  call,  and  we  will  con- 
verse together  about  the  same." 

But  when  occasion  required  it,  he  could  assume  a  much 
harsher  tone  toward  delinquents.  He  could  criticise  sharply  the 
defects  of  fellow  Germans.  He  wrote  August  2,  1821,  to  his 
brother,   G.   Reichert: 

,,Manche  der  Deutschen,  welche  in  den  letzten  Jahren  hie 
in  diesem  Lande  angekommen  sind,  hatten  die  Meinung,  dass 
man  hier  zu  Lande  ohne  Arbeit  gut  leben  konne.  Sie  haben 
aber  weit  gefehlt ;  in  kein  Land  taugt  ein  Miissiganger  weniger 


86  The  Harmony  Society. 

als  in  Amerika,  weil  noch  so  vieles  zu  thun  ist,  bis  es  in  der  Cul- 
tur  den  alten  Landern  gleich  kommt.  Ueberhaupt  scheint  es  bei 
den  Neuankommenden,  dass  das  Sitten-  und  moralische  Verder- 
ben  in  Deutschland  seit  unserer  Abreise  sich  sehr  vermehrt  haben 
muss ;  dann  die  alte  deutsche  Ehrlichkeit  und  Fleiss,  als  Haupt- 
zuge  des  deutschen  Charakters,  sind  fast  ganz  verschwunden. 
Wann  es  bei  der  grossen  Masse  des  Volks  das  nemliche  ist,  wie 
bei  den  Ankommlingen  in  dieses  Land,  so  muss  es  fur  den  ganzen 
Staat  iible  Folgen  haben. " 

With  his  high  views  of  morality,  he  combined  a  sense  ot 
humor.  When  his  friend  Judge  Blackford  was  defeated  for  Con- 
gress, he  wrote,  October  3,  1825,  to  John  D.  Hay,  Vincennes : 

"I  am  sorry  Judge  Blackford  has  again  lost  his  election,  and 
this  event  must  of  course  affect  his  popularity.  Yet  I  hope  he 
is  philosopher  enough  to  bear  the  loss  with  fortitude  and  take 
recourse  to  a  comfort,  like  a  candidate  in  early  times,  who,  after 
losing  his  election,  gave  a  great  and  splendid  dinner  to  his  friends, 
at  which  he  at  once  arose  and  thanked  God  that  his  country 
could  furnish  thirty  better  men  than  he  was." 

In  a  letter  February  13,  1824,  to  Samuel  Patterson,  he  gave 
the  following  explanation  of  a  mistaken  order: 

"Enclosed  you  will  find  Mr.  D.  Smith's  direction,  sent  last 
fall  with  this  yarn,  by  which  the  manufacturer  was  guided  in 
working  it  up.  Mr.  Smith,  instead  of  mentioning  shawl,  as  it  is 
commonly  spelled,  and  as  now  appears  was  intended,  inserted 
the  word  "shells/'  This  expression  was  understood  as  a  new 
fashioned  term,  "the  shell  of  anything  being  the  compass  thereof." 
A  riding  coat  was  considered  as  such  and  the  yarn  was  manufac- 
tured accordingly." 

Frederick  Rapp  was  a  stone  cutter  and  architect  by  trade. 
He  was  a  man  of  literary,  scientific  and  artistic  interests.  Soon 
after  settling  on  the  Wabash,  he  gave  an  order  for  Klopstock's 
"Messias,"and  two  paintings, "Christ  healing  the  sick" and  "Peter 
preaching  at  Pentacost."  In  1821  J.  Reichert  and  R.  L.  Baker 
went  to  Germany  to  collect  money  due  members  of  the  Society. 
On  their  return  in  1823,  they  brought  besides  several  choice  va- 
rieties of  grapes,  some  books,  a  pocket  telescope,  a  camera  ob- 
scura  and  two  astronomical  charts,  at  the  request  of  Frederick 
Rapp. 


The  Harmony  Society.  87 

He  wrote  of  art : 

"The  art  of  painting  is  certainly  very  delightful  and  amus- 
ing. Fleet  and  unnoticed  hours  pass  away  to  finish  an  object  to 
please  our  fancy  or  imitate  the  pattern  from  which  we  draw. 
Never  have  I  been  able  to  satisfy  the  magical  power  of  my  mind, 
in  progressing  as  fast  as  I  should  wish  in  this  beautiful  accom- 
plishment, not  speaking  of  the  infinite  source  the  Creator  has  fur- 
nished us  for  contemplation  and  admiration  of  the  great  variety, 
beauty  and  wisdom  exhibited  in  his  works  all  through  nature. 
Sometimes  after  reflecting  on  the  curiosity  of  the  structure,  color 
and  scent  of  a  flower  or  herb,  I  feel  greatly  animated  to  express 
my  feeling  toward  his  omnipotence,  who  has  made  so  many 
things  for  our  youth  and  pleasure.  I  hasten  to  my  piano  to  min- 
gle with  the  sensations  of  my  mind  the  sweet  tune  of  my  instru- 
ment and  the  sounds  of  my  voice  in  a  Te  Deum  or  some  other 
piece  appropriate  to  the  situation  of  my  mind.  By  such  a  change 
I  always  find  myself  invigorated  to  pursue  my  usual  studies  with 
new  courage,  which,  although  various,  still  tend  to  the  same  ob- 
ject, to  improve  the  mind  and  acquaint  ourselves  with  nature  and 
its  Creator." 

He  was  a  good  musician.  Several  hymns  in  the  Society's 
collection  were  composed  by  him.  In  the  absence  of  George  Rapp, 
he  officiated  as  preacher.  His  business  made  it  necessary  for  him 
to  make  frequent  visits  to  Pittsburg,  Baltimore,  New  York  and 
Philadelphia.  At  such  times  he  attended  the  theatre  and  opera. 
September  19,  1830,  he  writes  from  New  York  to  Gertrude  Rapp 
that  he  had  not  been  able  to  hear  any  good  music,  and  that  he 
was  about  to  buy  a  piano.  There  were  pianos  in  several  of  the 
houses  of  the  Society.  Still,  he  was  happiest  among  his  own 
people.  On  returning  from  a  visit  to  Philadelphia,  he  wrote  to 
George  Sutton,  December  2,  1817: 

"On  my  journey,  I  became  so  weary  of  the  world,  and  par- 
ticularly of  the  city  life,  that  I  am  very  glad  to  live  again  among 
my  friends,  who  have  uprightness  for  their  rule,  and  where,  in- 
stead of  fashionable  luxury,  simple  frugality  governs  the  rudder." 

Notwithstanding  the  busy  life,  the  settlers  must  have  led  in 
conquering  the  wilderness  and  developing  their  industries,  they 
did  not  neglect  their  intellectual  and   religious  interests.     The 


88  The  Harmony  Society. 

church  and  its  services  always  were  an  important  element  in  the 
life  of  the  Society  as  a  religious  community. 

In  t8io.  they  paid  $600  for  having  their  Harmonisches  Gesang- 
buch  printed  in  Allentown,  Pa.  They  had  their  own  bookbinder 
and  press  on  which  they  printed  some  religious  pamphlets.  The 
same  year  they  imported  a  bell  from  England  for  their  church. 

A  school  had  been  established  by  them  in  the  beginning,  and 
has  continued  until  the  present  time.  Two  of  the  trustees,  Mr. 
Henrici  and  Mr.  Duss  were  teachers  of  this  school.  In  the  early 
years  the  children  of  the  Society  and  the  community  were  taught, 
principally  in  German.  Some  of  them  were  taught  Latin,  French 
and  English.  Later  both  English  and  German  were  taught  to 
all.  In  recent  years  the  instruction  has  been  in  English,  but  op- 
portunity is  given  for  those  to  learn  German,  who  wish  to  do  so. 

On  the  Wabash  the  Society  had  its  musical  organization,  its 
band.  The  leader  of  this  band  was  an  accomplished  musician, 
Mr.  Miiller,  who  sometimes  accompanied  Frederick  Rapp  on  his 
journeys  to  the  East.  The  musical  traditions  of  the  Society  have 
never  been  allowed  to  die.  The  band  furnished  music  on  festive 
occasions,  while  in  the  church  service  the  organ  was  skillfully 
played.  Mr.  Lenz  played  the  French  horn  in  the  orchestra,  Mr. 
Henrici  played  the  first  violin  in  the  orchestra,  the  organ  in  the 
church,  and  composed  music.  Mr.  Duss  is  a  musician  of  high  at- 
tainment. As  a  composer,  and  director  of  the  band  and  orchestra 
organized  by  him,  he  has  attracted  wide  attention.  The  Duss 
musical  organizations  doubtless  owed  their  conception  to  the 
band  of  the  Harmony  Society,  and  may  be  regarded  as  its  suc- 
cessors. 

From  1815  to  1819  the  Society  subscribed  to  the  following 
newspapers :  Western  Sun,  Indiana  Herald,  Indiana  Sentinel,  Mer- 
cury, Harrisburger  Morgenrbthe,  Friedens  Bothe,  Aurora,  in  Philadel- 
phia ;  a  Lancaster,  Pa.,  paper ;  Western  Courier,  Louisville ;  Argus  of 
Western  America,  Ohio  Adler.  In  1822  Frederick  Rapp  subscribed 
for  the  Reformer,  of  Philadelphia. 

In  their  store  at  Harmony,  they  kept  a  large  stock  of  books 
to  supply  the  public.  Among  those  in  stock  in  1825,  were : 
Bibles,  French  Revolution,  Plutarch's  Lives,  Memoirs  of  Napo- 
leon, History  of  Religion,  Webster's  Grammars,  Summer's  Bot- 


The  Harmony  Society.  89 

any,  Pilgrim's  Progress,  Researches  in  Asia,  Thornton  Abbey, 
Mose's  Geography,  Mississippi  Navigation,  Mercantile  Arith- 
metic, Roman  History,  Goldsmith's  Rome  and  England,  Wash- 
ington's Life,  Vicar  of  Wakefield,  Son  of  a  Genius,  Ready  Reck- 
oners, Mexico,  American  Pilots. 

They  had  a  library  of  360  volumes  for  their  own  use.  In 
this  library  were  works  on  religion  and  literature,  and  scientific 
works. 

The  Society  never  became  so  engrossed  in  its  business  en- 
terprises that  it  could  not  help  the  needy.  They  paid  the  way 
of  many  poor  emigrants  who  came  from  Germany  with  the 
view  of  joining  the  Society.  Some  of  these  joined  the  Society; 
many  did  not.  April  10,  1819,  $950  was  sent  to  Jacob  Boiler, 
of  Philadelphia,  to  ransom  three  families  of  emigrants  who  were 
detained  at  that  port.  These  were  persons  in  whom  the  Society 
had  no  personal  interest.  In  fact  they  rather  hoped  they  would 
not  come  to  them.  The  same  year  they  brought  John  Kail  and 
wife  from  Pennsylvania  to  Indiana.  Kail  was  an  old  German, 
who  wanted  to  end  his  days  with  his  son-in-law,  who  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Society. 

In  regard  to  these  persons,  Frederick  Rapp  wrote,  April  30, 
1819,  to  A.  Way  &  Co.,  Pittsburg: 

"John  Kail  and  his  family  arrived  here  some  time  ago,  they 
complain  very  much  of  ill  treatment  by  the  captain,  who  did  not 
furnish  them  with  necessary  provisions  according  to  the  agree- 
ment, but  let  them  suffer.  I  expect  those  three  families  of  Ger- 
man emigrants,  left  on  board  of  ship  in  Philadelphia,  as  you 
stated  on  the  nth  ult.,  have  been  since  ransomed  on  our  account, 
by  Mr.  J.  Baker,  and  perhaps  now  on  the  way  to  Pittsburg,  will 
call  on  you  for  assistance.  We  wish  you  may  let  them  have 
their  own  choice,  whether  to  come  here  or  not.  Such  who  are 
desirous  of  coming,  you  may  assist  in  getting  passage  in  a  boat, 
and  of  such  who  would  rather  stay  in  or  about  Pittsburg  you 
may  take  a  bond  or  note  for  their  passage  money  from  Europe 
to  Philadelphia,  and  expenses  from  there  to  Pittsburg  (the 
amount  of  which  themselves  or  their  companions  can  tell  you), 
payable  in  three  equal  yearly  payments.  If  they  would  not  give 
such  a  bond  or  note,  you  may  let  them  go  their  own  way,  rather 


90  The  Harmony  Society. 

than  to  encourage  or  assist  them  or  any  other  in  the  future  to 
come  here,  unless  particularly  instructed.  The  consequences  we 
experienced  by  those  that  I  brought  out,  prove  that  venomous 
corruptions  in  morality  prevailing  in  Germany,  and  various  pre- 
judices gathered  from  artful  calumniators  on  their  way  through 
this  country,  have  generally  too  deeply  rooted  into  their  hearts, 
that  neither  law  nor  gospel  is  able  to  bring  them  to  a  natural  un- 
derstanding, and  produce  a  sound  moral  or  physical  deportment 
with  them,  far  less  religious  sentiments." 

In  1824  the  Harmonists  determined  to  move  from  the  Wa- 
bash to  Economy,  Pa.  This  new  site  was  not  more  than  twenty 
irr.les  from  their  first  home  at  Harmony,  Pennsylvania.  It  was 
situated  on  the  Ohio  River,  eighteen  miles  from  Pittsburg.  May 
11,  1824,  Frederick  Rapp  wrote  from  Pittsburg  to  J.  Solms,  Phil- 
adelphia : 

„Ich  habe,  seitdem  ich  Sie  verlassen  habe,  ein  Stuck  Land  18 
Meilen  von  hier  an  der  Ohio  angekauft,  welches  an  der  Land- 
strasse  nach  Beaver  und  Ohio  State,  und  dem  Ohio  River  liegt. 
Wir  werden  wohl  nach  und  nach  alle  darauf  hinziehen;  es  hat 
eine  schone  und  gesunde  Laage,  es  wird  aber,  wie  Sie  mit  Recht 
gegen  den  Editor  bemerkt  haben,  unserer  Harmonie  nichts  be- 
nehmen,  sondern  unsere  Einigkeit  wird  bleiben  und  im  geringsten 
keinen  Abbruch  leiden,  sondern  um  so  mehr  beweisen,  dass  es 
Harmonie  ist,  indem  schwerlich  eine  andere  Klasse  Menscheu 
von  der  namlichen  Volkszahl,  zu  einem  solchen  Unterrvehmen 
einig  werden  wiirde." 

The  reason  usually  given  for  this  move  is  that  they  found 
the  Indiana  climate  too  unhealthy.  This  was  one  reason,  al- 
though not  the  chief  one.  On  first  settling  there,  they  had  suf- 
fered much  from  fever  and  ague,  but  in  the  course  of  ten  years, 
they  had  become  acclimated.  In  their  letters  reference  is  fre- 
quently made  to  the  good  health  of  the  community  (for  example, 
by  Frederick  Rapp,  September  8,  1821,  and  June  21,  1823,  John 
L.  Baker,  March  12,  1824).  August  13,  1824,  Frederick  Rapp 
wrote  to  Joseph  F.  Fink : 

"Unsere  Gesellschaft  geniesst  gegenwartig  gute  Gesundheit, 
und  haben  einen  ziemlich  reichen  (aber  nassen)  Sommer  an  Ge- 
treice  aller  Arten,  viel  Obst  auch  Wein  usw. 


The  Harmony  Society.  91 

•  ,,Immer  aber  ist  uns  dicse  Gegend  ctwas  zu  heiss  gewesen, 
welches  uns  veranlasste  ktirzlich  einen  andern  Platz  zu  kaufen 
und  dort  niederzulassen  ;  haben  da  auch  schon  eine  Stadt  ange- 
legt,  welche  Economy  genannt  wird." 

There  had  been  some  friction  between  them  and  their  west- 
ern neighbors,  and  they  desired  to  move  to  a  more  congenial 
neighborhood.  Frederick  Rapp  later  assigned  this  as  one  reason 
for  moving.  The  decisive  motive  is  given  in  a  letter  from  R.  L. 
Baker  to  Mr.  I.  R.  Woods,  July  6,  1824: 

"Induced  by  several  motives,  our  Society  will  probably  leave 
this  section  of  the  country  and  settle  itself  in  Pennsylvania  on 
the  banks  of  the  Ohio,  not  far  below  Pittsburg,  where  we  in- 
tend manufacturing  more  largely." 

They  had  attained  skill  in  manufacturing  and  found  their 
western  home  ill  suited  for  that  occupation.  It  was  too  far  from 
the  eastern  market  and  the  currency  of  the  western  states  was 
too  unreliable.  They  regarded  Economy,  near  the  headquarters 
of  the  Ohio,  as  a  more  favorable  location.  It  made  the  eastern 
market  accessible,  while  they  could  reach  the  west  and  south  by 
water  almost  as  easily  as  before.  Here  they  purchased  a  com- 
paratively small  plot  of  ground,  3,000  acres,  intending  to  devote 
their  energy  to  manufacturing,  not  to  agriculture.  At  the  same 
time  they  came  to  a  community  where  they  were  favorably 
known,  and  where  they  had  old  friends ;  and  a  more  healthful  and 
beautiful  site  than  Economy  they  could  scarcel)  have  found  any- 
where. 

April  11,  1824,  Frederick  Rapp  had  written  to  Richard 
Flower  to  advertise  in  England  the  Indiana  property  for  sale. 
Mr.  Rapp's  advertisement  will  give  the  best  idea  of  the  extent 
of  the  settlement : 

"Town  of  Harmonie  with  20,000  acres  of  first  rate  land  ad- 
joining, situated  on  the  East  bank  of  the  Big  Wabash,  70  miles 
by  water  from  its  mouth,  only  15  miles  by  land  from  the  Ohij 
River.  Wabash  is  navigable  at  all  seasons  for  boats  of  20  tons 
burden,  and  a  great  part  of  the  year  for  steamboats  of  middle 
class.  2,000  acres  of  highly  cultivated  land,  15  of  it  in  vineyard, 
35  acres  in  apple  orchard,  containing  1500  bearing  apple  and  pear 


92  The  Harmony  Society. 

trees.     Considerable  peach  orchards  and  pleasure  gardens  with 
bearing  and  ornamental  trees. 

One  large  3-story  water  merchant  mill ;  extensive  factory  of 
cotton  and  woolen  goods,  2  saw  mills,  1  oil  and  hemp  mill,  1 
large  brick  and  stone  warehouse,  2  large  graneries,  1  store ;  a 
large  tavern,  6  large  frame  buildings  used  as  mechanics'  shops, 
1  tanyard  of  50  vats,  3  frame  barns,  50x100,  with  1  threshing  ma- 
machine;  3  large  sheep  stables,  6  2-story  brick  dwellings,  60x60; 
40  2-story  brick  and  frame  dwellings,  86  log  dwellings ;  all  houses 
have  stables  and  gardens ;  2  large  distilleries,  1  brewery." 

Mr.  Flower  soon  found  a  prospective  purchaser  in  the  person 
of  Mr.  Robert  Owen.  Mr.  Owen  visited  Harmony  in  January, 
1825,  and  after  inspection,  decided  to  buy  the  whole  establish- 
ment. He  agreed  to  pay  $150,000.00  for  the  lands  and  houses, 
and  also  bought  the  articles  in  the  store,  consisting  of  books 
(mentioned  above),  glassware,  china,  groceries,  dry  goods, 
leather,  silks,  linen,  woolen,  calicoes,  cutlery,  hardware,  harness 
and  furs,  and  their  machinery  and  in  addition  all  their  stock  of 
cattLe  and  horses  which  they  did  not  take  with  them,  viz. :  140 
milk  cows,  125  steers,  5  bulls,  28  heifers,  700  sheep,  250  hogs,  16 
horses,  8  wagons  and  carts,  8  ploughs,  also  whiskey,  wool,  fur- 
niture.    For  these  Mr.  Owen  paid  the  sum  of  $40,000.00. 

In  the  summer  of  1824,  George  Rapp,  as  was  his  custom, 
went  ahead  with  an  advance  party  of  about  90  persons  to  Econ- 
omy, to  prepare  a  new  home  for  the  reception  of  the  main  body, 
which  was  still  at  Harmony.  A  letter  from  a  child  of  this  party 
to  a  friend  in  Indiana,  gives  a  glimpse  into  the  life  of  the  new 
colony.  George  Rapp  directs  the  work  and  encourages  the 
others  by  his  teaching  and  example.  On  Sundays  the  people  as- 
semble for  religious  instruction  and  their  leader  teaches  person- 
ally, even  the  little  girls.  It  shows  something  of  the  secret  of 
George  Rapp's  success  as  a  leader: 
Liebste  Freundin : 

„Economy,  den  14.  November  1824. 

Wir  denken,  du  wirst  auch  bcgierig  seyn,  unseren  Umtrieb 
und  tagliche  Geschaftigkeiten  nebst  unseren  grossen  Haushal- 
tungen,  welche  euch  bekannt  sind,  zu  lernen.  Wir  haben  wohl 
viel  Arbeit,  aber  ihr  durft  deswegen  keine  Sorgen  haben ;  wir  sind 


The  Harmony  Society.  93 

doch  dabei  immer  gesund,  munter  und  vergniigt.  Des  Morgens, 
wenn  wir  unsere  hausliche  Arbeit  vcrrichtet  haben,  gehen  allemal 
zwei  Magdlein  mit  den  Kiihen  auf  die  Weide,  welche  sic  auch  des 
Abends  wieder  holen  ;  und  so  ist  unsere  Ordnung  den  ganzen 
Sommer,  und  alle  Tag  zwei  andere ;  aber  ihr  darft  nicht  denken 
dass  es  uns  beschwerlich  sei,  unser  Gcsang  dazu  ist:  Friih  am 
Morgen,  treiben  wir  mit  Sorgen,  unsere  Kiih'  ins  Thai.  Unsere 
Vormittagsgeschafte  sind,  Hauser  auszuniumen  vor  euch,  weil 
wir  beim  nachsten  grossen  Wass^r  einen  Theil  von  euch  erwar- 
ten,  und  des  Nachmittags  gehen  wir  ins  Bloek,  Feuerschieren  und 
Recheln,  und  dein  Grossvater  ist  immer  bei  uns,  und  macht  uns 
viel  Muth,  hilft  uns  auch  zeitenweis  Feuerschieren,  und  das 
mehreste  V^rgniigen  ist,  dass  wir  immer  so  innig  und  zufrieden 
sind,  wie  Geschwister.  Wir  lieben  einander  jetzt  vielmehr  als 
zuvor,  ehe  wir  so  zusamrrLen  kommen  sind,  denn  der  Umgang 
und  Bekanntschaft  macht  viel  aus. 

Sonntags  gehen  wir  zusammen,  als  wenns  eine  Compagme 
ware,  und  sind  begrifTen  im  Lernen.  Wir  haben  schon  drei 
Stuck  bekommen  von  deinem  Grossvater,  zwei  haben  wir  fertig 
und  am  dritten  sind  wir  noch ;  jetzt  haben  wir  vorgenommen 
einen  Bewillkommensfahnen  zu  machen,  weil  wir  besorgen,  wenn 
ihr  kommt,  ihr  mochtet  an  uns  vorb^ifahren.  —  Was  der  Stadt- 
platz  anbelangt,  wirst  du  schon  alles  erfahren  haben,  aber  du 
wiirdest  dich  jetzt  recht  wundern,  wie  er  verbessert  worden  ist. 
Es  hat  uns  alle  herzlich  erfeut,  dass  wir  Erlaubniss  bekommen 
haben,  dir  ,eine  Antwort  zu  schreiben.  Diesen  Brief  haben  wir 
in  unserem  kleinen  Gemeinhaus  geschrieben.  Wir  griissen  dich 
alle  herzlich." 

Frederick  Rapp  had  remained  behind  at  Harmony  to  settle 
up  the  business  there  and  direct  the  moving  of  the  Society.  It 
was  no  easy  task  to  move  a  community  of  some  700  persons,  and 
a  large  amount  of  freight.  Frederick  Rapp  wrote  March  11, 
1825,  to  John  Caldwell,  that  he  would  pay  as  much  as  $1000  for 
a  steamer  to  carry  a  cargo  from  Harmony  to  Economy.  But 
even  at  that  rate  he  had  difficulty  in  securing  transportation.  In 
anticipation  of  such  difficulty,  the  Society  had  proceeded  to  the 
execution  of  the  project  of  building  a  steamboat  of  its  own.  The 
construction  of  the  boat  was  commenced  in  the  fall  of  1824,  at 


94  The  Harmony  Society. 

Pittsburg,  Mr.  Way  attending  to  the  matter  for  them.  In  No- 
vember the  boat  was  launched.  The  following  letter  from  John 
L.  Baker  to  Gertrude  Rapp,  from  Economy,  November  24,  1824, 
is  interesting  as  describing  the  launching  and  as  an  exercise  in 
English  composition: 
"Dear  Gertrude: 

I  frequently  hear  with  great  pleasure,  in  Frederick's,  and 
your  own  letters  to  your  grandfather  and  aunt,  of  your  health 
and  welfare  of  all  our  friends.  I  also  perceive  at  the  same  time 
your  rapid  progress  in  learning,  and  silently  admire  the  beau- 
tiful sentences  which  flow  from  your  juvenile  mind  into  your  pen 
when  writing  letters.  Believing  that  you  must  have  acquired 
considerable  knowledge  of  the  English,  since  we  left  you,  and 
might  be  glad  perhaps  of  a  little  new  matter  for  practice,  induce 
me  to  write  you  these  few  lines  in  hopes  that  you  will  be  pleased 
to  answer  in  English  at  your  leisure. 

Knowing  that  everything  that  passes  here  is  always  so  care- 
fully stated  by  your  grandfather,  that  there  is  nothing  new  left 
for  me  to  mention,  and  I  was  at  a  loss  for  a  whiLe  to  find  a  sub- 
ject to  write  until  a  few  nights  ago,  when  after  the  bustle  of  the 
day,  either  selling  goods  or  working  in  grandfather's  grand  new 
garden,  I  was  sitting  solitary  near  a  little  stove  in  the  store,  the 
idea  struck  me  that  perhaps  the  seat  of  nature,  which  you  have 
seen  while  here,  might  interest  you,  of  which,  however,  I  only 
can  say  that  its  beauties  are  vanished.  Those  verdant  hills  you 
saw  embellishing  the  borders  of  the  Ohio  and  the  valley  of  Econ- 
omy, gradually  changed  the  emerald  shade  of  their  foliage  from 
a  dark  green  to  a  yellow,  red  and  brown,  then  dropped  and  left 
their  lofty  station  bare  of  ornament.  The  pine  and  hemlock  trees 
alone  with  bows  of  evergreen  along  the  bank  look  pleasant  yet. 
All  others  lost  their  leaves,  nipped  with  hard  autumnal  frosts. 
The  tender  plants  of  wheat  and  rye  in  our  fields,  which  scarcely 
show  their  feeble  blades  for  want  of  timely  rain,  seem  lively  still, 
and  seem  to  indicate  a  hope  of  spring.  Alas !  before  that  comes 
we  must  expect  them  buried  under  snow  and  ice,  and  we  like 
nature's  self,  wrapped  up  in  winter  clothes,  keep  our  firesides  in 
those  long  dreary  nights  and  be  contended  to  talk  of  our  friends 
which  are  withheld  from  our  sight  by  a  long  distance,  or  visit 


The  Harmony  Society.  95 

them  on  wings  of  mere  imagination  and  then  return  unsatisfied 
and  with  uncertainty,  still  have  recourse  in  hope  that  as  soon 
as  those  now  mournful  trees  on  the  declivities  of  the  surround- 
ing hills  begin  to  bud,  and  all  the  feathered  tribe,  inhabitants  of 
the  forest,  commence  their  cheerful  songs  on  its  bedewed  boughs, 
and  nature  be  restored  again,  that  then,  time  after  time,  we  hear 
the  sounds  of  cannons,  a  harbinger  of  good  news  for  us,  rever- 
berating through  the  recesses  of  the  neighboring  mountains,  an- 
nouncing the  aproach  of  our  dear  beloved,  and  when  the  bent 
bugle's  echo  from  beyond  yonder  shore,  tells  us  that  our  friends 
are  close  at  hand,  and  let  us  all  together  join  our  voices  with 
nature's  chorus  and  sing:  Hallelujah. 

Since  the  above  was  wrote,  a  new  scene  presented  itself  to 
us,  a  description  of  which  will  certainly  be  interesting  to  you. 
A  few  days  ago  it  was  announced  that  our  steamboat  is  going 
to  be  launched,  and  we  requested  to  attend.  Your  grandfather 
and  myself  with  Mr.  Shields  and  other  friends,  went  there  on  Sat- 
urday, the  27th  inst.  When  all  was  ready,  grandfather  was  called 
upon  to  give  the  boat  a  name,  he  called  her  "William  Penn," 
which  found  applause  with  all  the  people  present,  and  at  one 
o'clock  she  left  her  stocks  with  not  less  than  sixty  men  and  boys 
on  board,  and  seeming  anxious  for  her  element  she  flew  with  the 
velocity  of  a  bird,  under  the  congratulations  of  the  great  number 
of  spectators  for  success  to  William  Penn,  and  in  less  than  one 
minute  she  split  the  deep  and  crossed  her  future  path,  covering 
the  smooth  surface  of  the  river  with  rolling  waves.  All  ex- 
claimed that  no  vessel  went  off  with  more  elegance.  Not  the 
least  accident  happened,  either  to  men  or  boat,  and  after  touch- 
ing the  opposite  shore,  she  was  brought  back,  riding  majestically 
on  the  water,  under  general  praise.  All  went  on  board.  A  num- 
ber of  our  friends  partook  of  our  cold  dinner  on  deck  and  drank 
of  the  Wabash  wine,  toasting  success  to  William  Penn.  Every 
where  appeared  order  and  cheerfulness,  and  we  returned  well 
pleased  and  satisfied  to  our  home,  where  we  arrived  at  twilight. 

Remember  me  to  your  grandmother,  mother,  Fleckhammer, 
and  all  in  the  house,  also  to  my  mother,  brother  and  sister;  tell 


96  The  Harmony  Society. 

them  that  I  am  well,  and  wish  you  and  them  good  health,  with 
all  our  friends. 

JOHN  L.  BAKER." 
(To  Miss  Gertude  Rapp,  Harmony,  Ind.) 

By  February,  1825,  the  boat  "William  Penn"  was  finished 
and  ready  for  service.  With  this  and  several  other  steamboats, 
the  moving  was  successfully  completed.  Frederick  Rapp,  with 
the  last  party,  left  Harmony  May  5,  1825,  glad  to  leave  a  place 
which  they  could  no  longer  call  their  own,  as  it  was  fast  getting 
into  the  possession  of  strangers.*  At  the  falls  of  the  Ohio,  at 
Louisville,  they  were  obliged  to  transfer  to  the  steamer  Bolivar, 
which,  after  a  pleasant  journey  brought  them  to  Economy,  May 
17,  1825. 


♦Frederick  Rapp  to  John  D.  Hay,  May  10,  1825. 


IT                   KJ 

BMffi 

■  S^B^f^&WH,  HI  WM~  ^B '  1 

- 

HI 

'■■/■ 

■  •J 

^^■Ek£^ 

1 

w—  •-  w.  .         -<w>r. 

.  .     ■<  .       -.--■::._ 

-JM^' 

Town   Hall   at   Economy. 


Street  in  Economy,   showing-  the    Church,    Town      Hall      and    "Great 

House." 


The  Harmony  Society.  97 


CHAPTER  V. 


Economy,    Pennsylvania,   1825-1868. 

The  names  of  "Harmony"  and  "Unity"  were  suggested  by 
some  as  names  for  th-e  new  town,  but  that  of  "Economy"  was 
adopted.  The  name  is  significant  of  the  character  of  the  Society 
at  that  time.  It  was  now  to  be  pre-eminently  an  industrial  com- 
munity. In  20  years  the  members  had  acquired  skill  in  certain 
lines  of  manufacturing.  A  reputation  for  the  excellence  of  their 
wares  had  been  established  and  a  wide  patronage  had  been  ac- 
quired. A  sufficient  capital  had  been  amassed  to  allow  them  to 
extend  their  operations  without  embarrassment.  For  their  pro- 
jected industrial  enterprises,  they  could  not  have  chosen  any- 
where a  better  site. 

After  providing  themselves  with  shelter,  they  exerted  them- 
selves to  get  their  factories  into  operation  as  soon  as  possible.  A 
week  after  his  arrival  at  Economy,  May  25,  1825,  R.  L.  Baker 
wrote  two  of  the  Society's  agents,  John  D.  Hay,  at  Vincennes, 
and  John  Caldwell,  at  Shawneetown : 

"We  arrived  here  in  the  steamboat  Bolivar,  on  Tuesday,  the 
17th  inst.,  after  a  pleasant  voyage,  and  found  our  friends  in  good 
health,  busily  employed  in  erecting  houses,  for  the  reception  of 
the  rear  or  last  part  of  us — 33  roomy  and  convenient  frame  build- 
ings besides  20  comfortable  log  houses  are  finished  and  more  on 
hand. 

A  manufacturing  house  of  brick  has  been  commenced  this 


98  The  Harmony  Society. 

week  in  the  shape  of  an  L,  each  wing  80  feet  long,  the  engine  to 
be  placed  in  the  center,  the  power  of  which  will  be  applied  in  one 
part  for  cotton,  in  the  other  for  wool. 

Lumber  and  other  materials  for  building  can  be  had  any  time 
on  the  river,  at  fair  prices,  and  the  great  road  leading  from  Pitts- 
burg to  almost  all  the  western  parts  of  the  country  running 
through  the  town,  besides  the  Ohio  River,  which  runs  here  a 
due  north  course,  adds  much  to  the  vivacity  of  the  place." 

June  14,  1825,  Frederick  Rapp  wrote  to  John  Caldwell :  "In 
December  next  our  manufactories  will  again  be  in  operation,  as 
usual,  and  on  much  better  plans  than  formerly.  We  will  be 
able  to  fill  your  orders  as  well  in  the  cotton  as  woolen  line  to  any 
extent.  We  enjoy  good  health  and  are  busily  engaged  in 
building." 

December  16,  1825,  he  wrote:  "  Our  cotton  mill  will  be  in 
operation  in  two  weeks.  Our  steam  flour  mill  with  three  pairs 
of  stones  will  be  in  operation  in  five  or  six  weeks." 

The  vigor  and  promise  of  the  Society  in  its  new  home  are 
attested  by  two  notable  observers  who  visited  it  in  1826 — Fried- 
rich  List  and  Duke  Bernhard  of  Saxe- Weimar.  Both  were  men 
of  keen  observation,  wide  experience  and  sound,  practical  sense. 
Both  were  most  favorably  impressed  with  what  they  saw  at 
Economy. 

List  wrote  later  Das  Nationale  System  der  politischen  Oekonomie, 
and  it  was  he,  who,  on  his  return  to  Germany,  took  the  lead  in 
the  movement  for  the  construction  of  railroads  in  that  country. 
He  had  been  a  member  of  the  Chamber  of  Deputies  of  the  king- 
dom of  Wiirtemberg,  but  in  182 1  had  been  expelled  from  that 
body  and  condemned  to  ten  months'  imprisonment  at  hard  labor 
for  presenting  to  the  Chamber  a  petition  which  the  ministers 
considered  too  liberal.  To  escape  punishment,  he  fled  to  France, 
where  he  became  acquainted  with  Lafayette,  who  invited  him  to 
come  with  him  to  America,  in  1824.  List  was  unable  to  do  so, 
but  came  over  the  following  year,  and  joined  Lafayette  in  Phila- 
delphia, and  was  introduced  by  him  to  many  leading  Americans. 
List  was  looking  for  a  place  for  permanent  abode.  With  that 
purpose  he  came  to  Pittsburg,  and  from  there  visited  Economy. 
It  was  evening  when  he  reached  the  town.  „Es  lautete  Abend," 
he  wrote,  „wie  im  heimlichen  Schwabenland."     He  was  received 


The  Harmony  Society.  99 

with  the  greatest  friendliness  by  Rapp  and  th>e  Harmonists,  and 
was  delighted  to  hear  again  the  sounds  of  his  native  Swabian 
dialect.  The  next  day  he  inspected  the  various  institutions  of 
the  Society,  and  was  so  impressed  with  what  he  saw,  that  he  con- 
ceived a  plan  for  the  organization  of  education  on  the  model  there 
shown  him.  „Ungeachtet  die  Colonie  erst  ein  Jahr  angefangen, 
wohaen  die  Leute  alle  schon  sehr  gut  und  reinlich ;  vor  vierzehn 
Monaten  war  hier  noch  Wald,  jetzt  frohe  und  vergniigte  Ge- 
sichter.  Es  stehen  ungefahr  hundert  Hauser,  ein  grosses  Fabrik- 
gebaude  mit  zwei  Fliigeln,  eine  Kirche,  ein  Wirthshaus,  ein  herr- 
licher  Garten,  mehrere  Morgen  gross,  mit  Weinberg,  aller  Arten 
Blumen,  Orangen,  Citronen,  Feigenbaume,  Baumwolle,  Tabake ; 
man  geht  durch  Traubenlauben." 

List  was  greatly  pleased  with  the  personality  of  the  leader,  and 
the  spirit  of  harmony  among  the  members.  He  thus  outlined 
his  plan  for  the  training  of  boys  for  practical  life : 

„Ich  stelle,  wie  in  jener  Anstalt,  den  Grundsatz  fest,  dass 
die  Colonisten  alle  hauslichen  Geschafte  selbst  v«errichten,  und 
dass  sie  alle  gewohnlichen  Bedurfnisse  des  Lebens  sowohl  an 
Victualien  als  an  Kleidungsstoflen  selbst  producieren.  Ich  suche 
irgend  einen  Hauptindustriezweig  auf  (etwa  Fabrikation  von 
Tuch,  Schuhen  usw.)  auf  welche  die  jungen  Colonisten  ihre 
tibrige  Zeit  verwenden  und  woraus  wenigstens  so  viel  gewonnen 
werden  konnte,  als  zur  B^soldung  der  Lehrer  und  zur  An- 
schafTung  derjenigen  Bedurfnisse,  welche  die  Colonie  nicht  selbst 
erzeugt,  erforderlich  ware.  Ich  verwende  sieben  Stunden  auf 
die  Arbeit  und  funf  Stunden  auf  den  Unterricht.  Die  Zoglinge 
theile  ich  nach  ihren  Fahigkeiten  in  solche,  welche  eine  Wissen- 
schaft  oder  Kunst,  und  in  solche,  welche  ein  Gewerbe  oder  den 
Landbau  zu  ihrem  vorztiglichen  Fach  machen.  Jene  werden, 
sie  mogen  dereinst  in  Lagen  kommen,  in  welche  sie  wollen,  nie 
in  Verlegenheit  gerathen,  da  sie  in  Ermangelung  einer  Gelegen- 
heit  ihre  Kenntniss  geltend  zu  machen,  hinlangliche  Kenntniss 
und  Uebung  in  Handarbeiten  erlangt  haben,  urn  sich  damit  fort- 
zubringen,  diese  werden  so  viel  aus  den  Wissenschaften  sich 
aneignen  als  notig  ist,  urn  fiir  gebildete  Mechaniker  zu  gelten. 
1st  eine  einzige  solche  Anstalt  gelungen,  so  ist  damit  der  Grund 
zu  einer  Propoganda  gelegt ;  das  Vorbild  ist  gegeben.     Daraus 


ioo  The  Harmony  Society. 

gehen  Lehrer  fiir  andere  ahnliche  Anstalten  hervor,  die  den  Geist 
der  Anstalt  auf  jene  iibertragen."* 

Duke  Bernhard  of  Saxe-Weimar,  born  May  30,  1792,  was 
the  second  son  of  Karl  August.  He  fought  at  Wagram  on  the 
French  side  with  such  bravery  that  on  the  field  of  battle  he  was 
decorated  with  the  order  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  by  Napoleon 
himself.  From  181 1  to  1813  he  travelled  in  Italy  and  France. 
He  entered  the  Dutch  service  and  fought  at  Waterloo  with  dis- 
tinction. His  advancement  was  rapid.  In  1823  he  travelled  in 
England,  Scotland  and  Ireland.  In  April,  1825,  he  started  on  a 
fourteen  months'  visit  to  the  United  States.  He  was  well  re- 
ceived, and  thought  for  a  time  of  settling  here.  In  1825,  and 
again  in  1829,  he  rejected  the  plan  proposed  by  Russia,  of  plac- 
ing him  upon  the  throne  of  Greece.  In  1847  ne  took  the  com- 
mand for  three  years  of  the  Dutch  East  Indian  army  in  Java. 
He  was  a  man  of  great  energy  of  body  and  mind,  of  sound  judg- 
ment and  extensive  knowledge. 

While  in  America,  he  visited  both  New  Harmony,  Ind.,  and 
Economy,  Pa.  May  17,  1826,  he  was  in  Pittsburg,  and  intended 
to  visit  Economy  the  next  day,  when  to  his  surprise,  Frederick 
Rapp  appeared  and  invited  him  to  go  home  with  him.  He  ac- 
cepted the  invitation.*  He  gives  the  following  account  of  his 
visit : 

„Als  wir  den  Ort  erreichten,  fuhren  wir  zuerst  an  zwei 
rauchenden  Ziegelofen  vorbei.  Alsdann  kamen  wir  an  ein  neu 
errichtetes  Haus.  Auf  demselben  standen  drei  Waldhornisten, 
welche  bei  unserer  Annahrung  zu  blasen  anfingen.  An  dem 
Wirthshaus,  einem  schonen  grossen  framehaus,  empfingen  uns 
der  alte  Herr  Rapp  an  der  Spitze  der  Vorsteher  seiner  Gemeinde. 
Es  waren  graue  Haupter  und  ehrwiirdige  Greise.  Die  meisten 
waren  mit  Herrn  Rapp  vor  ein  und  zwanzig  Jahren  aus  dem 
Wurtembergischen  ausgewandert.  Nach  der  ersten  Begrtissung 
fiihrten  sie  uns  in  ein  einfach  aber  geschmackvoll  eingerichtetes 
Zimmer.     Wir  unterhielten  uns  daselbst  eine  Zeitlang  und  setzten 


♦Quoted  from  Friedrich  List,  Gesammelte  Schriften,  von  Ludwig 
Hausser  herausgegeben.     Erster  Theil,  P.  149. 

♦Reise  seiner  Hoheit  des  Herzogs  Bernhard  zu  Sachsen-Weimar-  Ei- 
senach durch  Nordamerika  in  den  Jahren  1825-1826.  Weimar,  1828,  p. 
204   ff. 


HOTEly    AT    ECONOMY. 


WOOI.KN     MIIyIy    AT    ECONOMY. 


The  Harmony  Society.  ior 

uns  dann  alle  zu  Mittagessen.  Die  Tafel  war  mit  deutschen 
Schiisseln  besetzt ;  an  ihr  herrschte  eine  frohliche  Herzlichkeit. 

Ich  war  durch  das,  was  ich  iiber  Herrn  Rapp  und  seine  Ge- 
r^ll^chaft  gelesen,  und  was  ich  noch  neulich  in  New  Harmony 
gehort  hatte,  wirklich  gegen  ihn  und  die  Seinigen  eingenommen  ; 
um  so  mehr  freute  ich  mich,  dass  ich  hierher  gekommen  war, 
urn  mich  durch  den  Augenschein  eines  Anderen  zu  belehren  und 
eines  Besseren  zu  liberzeugen.  Niemals  habe  ich  eine  so  wahr- 
haft  patriarchalische  Verfassung  gesehen  als  hier,  und  das,  was 
die  Menschen  gewirkt  haben,  spricht  am  besten  fur  ihre  Ein- 
richtungen  und  fur  die  unter  ihnen  herrschende  Eintracht. 

Auffallend  ist  es  allerdings  und  sehr  zu  verwundern,  dass 
es  einem  so  einfachen  Manne,  wie  Herrn  Rapp,  gelingen  kann, 
eine  Gesellschaft  von  fast  700  Personen  so  fest  zusammen  zu 
halten  und  sie  dahin  zu  bringen,  ihn  gewissermassen  als  einen 
Propheten  zu  verehren.  —  Sie  nennen  ihn  Vater  und  behandeln 
ihn  als  Vater. 

Nach  dem  Essen  gingen  wir  im  Orte  herum.  Es  ist  sehr 
regelmassig  angelegt.  Die  Strassen  sind  breit  und  in  rechten 
Winkeln.  —  In  vier  Tagen,  den  22.  Mai,  wurden  es  erst  zwei 
Jahre,  da  man  auf  dem  Platze,  wo  jetzt  Economy  steht,  den 
Wald  wegzuhauen  angefangen  hatte ;  als  Denkmaler  standen  die 
Baumwurzeln  noch  iiberall  in  den  Strassen.  Es  ist  zum  Erstau- 
nen,  wie  viel  vereinte  und  zweckmassig  geleitete  menschliche 
Krafte  in  so  kurzer  Zeit  auszurichten  vermocht  haben ! 

Viele  Familien  wohnen  noch  zwar  in  Loghausern ;  einige 
Strassen  bestehen  aber  schon  ganzlich  aus  reinlichen,  gut  ge- 
bauten  Framehausern,  die  auf  eine  gewisse  Distanz  von  ein- 
ander  errichtet  sind,  damit  jedes  Haus  von  einem  Garten  urn- 
geben  bleibe.  Von  Backstein  erbaut  waren  nur  die  vier  Stock- 
werke  hohen  Wollen-  und  Baumwollen-Manufacturen,  Herrn 
Rapps  Wohnhaus,  jedoch  noch  nicht  ganz  vollendet,  und  ein  im 
Bau  begrifYenes  Haus  zum  Waarenlager. 

In  den  Fabrikgebauden  wurden  alle  Maschinen  durch  eine 
Dampfmaschine,  welche  die  Kraft  von  75  Pferden  hatte,  von 
hohem  Druck,  in  Pittsburg  gemacht,  in  Bewegung  gesetzt  — 
Vermittelst  Rohren,  die  von  der  Dampfmaschine  ausgehen  und 
durch  alle  Stockwerke  und  Arbeitsplatze  sich  ausbreiten,  wird 
zur  Winterzeit  die  Heizung  bewirkt.     Alle  Arbeiter,  und  nament- 


102  The  Harmony  Society. 

lich  die  Weiber,  haben  eine  sehr  gesunde  Gesichtsfarbe,  und  die 
treuherzige  Freundlichkeit,  mit  welcher  sie  den  alten  Rapp  be- 
grtissten,  rtihrte  mich  tief.  Auch  gefiel  mir  sehr,  dass  auf  alien 
Maschinen  Becher  mit  frischen,  wohlriechenden  Blumen  standen. 
Die  herrschende  Reinlichkeit  ist  ebenfalls  in  jeder  Hinsicht  sehr 
zu  loben. 

Nach  Besichtigung  dieser  interessanten  Fabrik,  gingen  wir 
in  Herrn  Rapps  provisorisches  Wohnhaus  zum  Theetrinken  und 
Abendessen.  Ich  lernte  hier  seine  unverheiratete  etwas  abge- 
bliihte  Tochter  kennen  und  seine  bliihende  Enkelin  Gertrud. 

Die  Tafel  war  mit  schonem  Silberwerke  geschmiickt,  und  der 
alte  Rapp  schien  Freude  daran  zu  haben,  mir  seinen  wohlerwor- 
benen  Wohlstand  zeigen  zu  konnen.  —  Den  Abend  brachten  wir 
gleichfalls  bei  Herrn  Rapp  zu.  Er  Hess  die  musikalischen  Mit- 
glieder  seiner  Gesellschaft  zusammen  kommen,  um  uns  mit  Mu- 
sik  zu  unterhalten.  Miss  Gertrud  spielte  Pianoforte  und  drei 
Madchen  sangen,  die  anderen  Instrumenten  bestanden  aus 
Violinen,  Violincello  und  zwei  Floten. 

beberall  bemerkte  man  die  Spuren  der  Thatigkeit  und  der 
kindlichen  Hochachtung,  in  welcher  der  alte  Rapp  bei  seinen 
Jungern  steht.  Auch  das  Vorrathshaus  ward  uns  gezeigt,  wo 
alle  hier  verfertigten  Artikel  zum  Verkauf  und  zum  Verschicken 
bereit  liegen;  und  ich  bewunderte  die  Giite  aller  dieser  Gegen- 
stande. 

Endlich  fiihrte  Herr  Rapp  uns  noch  einmal  in  das  Manufac- 
tur-Gebaude,  denn,  sagte  er,  die  Madchen  hatten  ganz  besonders 
meinen  Besuch  ausgebeten,  damit  ich  sie  singen  horen  mochte. 
Wahrend  sie  sich  namlich  von  der  Arbeit  ausruhen,  versammeln 
sie  sich  in  einem  der  Arbeitssale,  zwischen  60  und  70  an  der  Zahl, 
um  geistliche  und  andere  Lieder  zu  singen.  —  Der  alte  Rapp 
hat  viel  Freude  am  Gesang,  und  die  Madchen  miissen  sich  jetzt 
besonders  damit  beschaftigen,  seitdem  die  Gertrud  herange- 
wachsen  ist  und  musikalischen  Unterricht  bekommt.  Ein  Stuhl 
steht  fur  den  alten  Patriarchen  bereit,  den  die  Madchen  herein- 
bringen.  Er  setzt  sich  in  ihre  Mitte  und  die  Madchen  beginnen 
den  Gesang,  der  wunderlieblich  klingt.  Er  ist  naturlich  sehr 
vollstimmig  und  ausserst  gut  arrangiert.     Die  Madchen  singen 


The  Harmony  Society.  103 

vier  Lieder,  anfangs  geistlichc   und   zuletzt   auf  Hcrrn   Rapps 
Verlangen,  auch  lustige.  — 

Wir  nahmen  herauf  in  Herrn  Rapps  Haus  ein  schr  gutea 
Mittagsmahl  ein,  und  die  musikalischen  Mitglieder  der  Gcsell- 
schaft  liessen  sich  bei  dieser  Gelegenheit  aufs  beste  vor  dem 
Hause  vernehmen.  Das  Orchester  war  zwolf  Personen  stark 
und  spielte  wirklich  sehr  brav.  — 

Beide  Herren  Rapp,  zumal  der  alte,  redeten  mir  sehr  zu, 
mich  in  ihrer  Nahe  niederzulassen  und  zehn  Meilen  weiter,  am 
Beaver  Creek,  die  sogenannte  Beaver  Falls,  fur  $25,000  zu 
kaufen.  Da  konnte  ich  Eisenwerke  anlegen,  sagten  sie,  und 
sehr  viel  Geld  erwerben ;  sie  und  ihre  Gesellschaft  wollten  mir 
mit  Rath  und  That  zur  Hand  gehen ! 

Mit  ganz  eigenen  Gefiihlen  verliessen  wir  nach  drei  Uhr 
das  freundliche  und  werkthatige  Economy  —  Bezahlung  nahm 
man  im  Wirthshaus  nicht  an  —  und  fuhren  durch  dieselbe 
schone  Gegend,  durch  welche  wir  gestern  gekommen  waren, 
nach  Pittsburg  zuruck." 

They  had  brought  with  them  from  Indiana,  manufactured 
goods  to  the  value  of  $35,000.  With  these  they  supplied  their 
trade,  until  their  factories  were  again  in  operation.  A  state- 
ment made  by  Frederick  Rapp,  183 1,  shows  the  value  of  cotton 
and  woolen  goods  manufactured  during  the  preceding  five  years, 
the  profit  in  the  industries,  number  of  hands  employed,  and 
wages  paid. 

"Statement  about  manufacturing,  1831,  by  Frederick  Rapp: 
Use  steam  power  in  both  wool  and  cotton  factories. 

Established   1826. 

Capital  in  cotton  factory,  $25,000.  Wool,  $30,000. 

Amount  of  wages  in  cotton  factory,  $3,400.00 

Amount  of  wages  in  woolen  factory,  $10,634.00 

Profit   in   Cotton    business  %      Woolen      % 

1827  15  14 

1828  14  15 

1829  12  16 

1830  8  18 
l83i                   12                        14 


104  Tlte  Harmony  Society. 

Cause  of  decrease  of  profit  in  cotton;  the    low    price     due    to 

competition. 
Cause  of  increase  of  profit  in  wool  to  1830:  the  protective  tariff. 
Cause  of  decrease  since  1830:  Importation  of  foreign  goods  and 
high  prices  of  wool. 

Value  of  Product. 
Wool.  Cotton. 

1827,  $35,681  $22,966 

1828,  $40,399  $22,372 

1829,  $57,453  $19427 

1830,  $70,504  $16,805 

1831,  $84,571  $18,730 

The  woolen  factory  employs  50  men,  at  $3.50  per  week;  15  boys 
at  $2.50;   15  females,  at  $1.00. 

They  work  12  hours  per  day. 

Men  at  common  labor  earn  $3  a  week. 

Women  at  common  labor  earn  $1  in  the  same  district. 

The  Cotton  factory  employs  4  men  at  $3.50  per  week. 

The  Cotton  factory  employs  60  females,  at  $1.25  per  week. 

Goods  are  shipped  from  18  to  500  miles.  They  are  generally  sold 

on  a  credit  of  six  months.     The  present  rate  of  duty  is  sufficient, 

if  strictly  enforced. 

Cotton.     Materials,  50%  ;  Labor,  38%  ;  Profit,  12%. 
Wool.        Materials,  55%  ;  Labor,  30%  ;  Profit,  15%." 
While  wool  and  cotton  were  two  important  industries,  the 

Society  was  at  the  same  time  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  silk, 

whiskey,  wine,  beer,  flour,  hats  and  other  articles. 

The  amounts  of  sales  and  purchases  during  the  first  five 

years,  at  Economy,  were  as  follows : 

Amount  of  Sales  and  Purchases  by  and  for  the  Establishment 
1826.  at  Economy. 

Amount  of  Mdse.  sold  per  Sales  Book $35,366.27 

Amount  of  Mdse.  sold  out  of  the  store  and  not  entered 

in  the   Sales   Book 4,076.00 

Amount  of  Cash  taken  in  by  the  Tavern,  Doctor,  Shoe- 
maker,  Smiths   and   Hatters 3*637.73 

$43,080.00 
Amount  purchased  during  same  year $97,177.87 


The  Harmony  Society.  105 

1827. 

Amount  of  Mdse.  sold  per  Sales  Book $67,810.88 

Amount  of  Mdse.  sold  at  the  store 5,025.12 

Amount  of  Mdse.  sold  during  wool  season 1,975.00 

Amount  of  cash  taken  by  Tavern,  Doctor,  Shoemaker, 

Smiths  and  Hatters 4,347.00 

$79,158.00 
Amount  purchased  same  year $81,400.75 

1828. 

Amount  of  Mdse.  sold  per  Sales  Book $68,450.97 

Amount  of  Mdse.  sold  out  of  the  store 5>975°3 

Amount  of  Mdse.  sold  during  wool  season 2,125.00 

Amount  of  cash  taken  by  Tavern,  Doctor,  Shoemaker, 

Smiths  and  Hatters 5,944.00 

$82,495.00 
Amount  purchased  same  year $64,620.50 

1829. 

Amount  of  Mdse.  sold  per  Sales  Book $73>265-39 

Amount  of  Mdse.  sold  out  of  store 6,250.00 

Amount  of  Mdse.  sold  during  wool  season 2,075.61 

Amount  of  cash  taken  by  Tavern,  Doctor,  Shoemaker, 

Smiths,   Hatters   and    Museum 5,855.00 

$87,446.00 
Amount  purchased  the  same  year $90,100.95 

1830. 

Amount  of  Mdse.  sold  per  Sales  Book $159,806.39 

Amount  of  Mdse  sold  out  of  store 6,378.00 

Amount  of  Mdse.  sold  during  wool  season 1,550.00 

Amount  of  cash  taken  by  Tavern,  Doctor,  Shoemaker, 

Smiths,  Hatters  and  Museum 7,132.63 

$174,867.02 
Amount  purchased  the  same  year $84,110.96 


106  The  Harmony  Society. 

1831. 

Amount  of  Mdse.  sold  per  Sales  Book $121,228.50 

Amount  of  Mdse.  sold  out  of  the  store 7,025.00 

Amount  of  cash  taken  by  Tavern,  Doctor,  Shoemaker, 

Smiths,  Hatters  and  Museum 9,327.80 

$137,581.30 
Amount  purchased  the  same  year $153,216.15 

Most  of  these  purchases  were  raw  materials :  wool,  cotton, 
grain.  They  had  agents  in  various  parts  of  the  country  buying 
wool  for  them,  and  they  bought  all  the  grain  in  the  market.  In 
1829  Frederick  Rapp  wrote  to  John  Clarke:  "We  would  have 
purchased  a  great  deal  more  if  we  could  have  got  it,  but  the 
country  around  us  is  too  poor  to  furnish  us  grain  enough.  We 
are  therefore  obliged  to  raise  nearly  as  much  as  we  want,  which 
we  never  would  do  if  we  could  buy  it." 

The  success  of  their  industries  was  so  great  that  they  soon 
controlled  the  Pittsburg  market.  They,  of  course,  incurred  the 
ill-will  of  their  competitors.  In  1829  a  series  of  articles  appeared 
in  the  Alleghany  Democrat,  attacking  them  as  a  monopoly  with 
which  individual  merchants  and  manufacturers  could  not  suc- 
cessfully compete.  These  had  to  buy  wool  at  "Economy  prices," 
and  the  purchaser  refused  to  pay  more  than  "Economy  prices" 
for  the  manufactured  wares. 

„Sie  (Economy)  hat  Gewalt  und  tibt  dieselbe  aus,  um  unsem 
Markt  im  Handel  zu  regulieren,  dieses  ist  eine  Thatsache,  zu 
handgreiflich  und  ofTenbar,  um  unbeobachtet  vorbei  zu  passieren, 
und  ein  Uebel  zu  driickend,  um  unbemerkt  zu  bleiben." 

Farmers  who  raised  Spanish  wool  had  to  sell  it  to  Mr.  Rapp, 
because  the  other  woolen  factories  in  and  about  Pittsburg,  which 
were  small,  could  not  work  up  the  fine  wool. 

Mr.  Rapp  was  enlarging  his  factory,  while  others  would  not 
embark  in  woolen  manufacture  on  account  of  his  competition. 

The  writer  advocated  the  dissolution  of  the  Society  by  the 
State. 

The  Sales  Book  gives  the  amount  of  sales  from  1830  to 
1843.     This  does  not  include  goods  sold  through  the  store,  which 


The  Harmony  Society.  107 

from  1826  to  1830  were  about  10%  additional,  and  the  statement 

may  be  also  in  other  respects  incomplete. 

Sales  for   1830  amounted  to $159,806.39 

Sales  for  1831   amounted  to 121,228.00 

Sales  for   1832  amounted  to 84.284.00 

Sales  for  1833  amounted  to 126,426.00 

Sales  for  1834  amounted  to 73,424.00 

Sales  for  1835  amounted  to 95,024.00 

Slaes  for  1836  amounted  to 118,625.00 

Sales  for  1837  amounted  to 102,313.00 

Sales  for   1838  amounted  to 99,619.00 

Sales  for  1839  amounted  to 64,969.00 

Sales  for  1840  amounted  to 66,209.00 

Sales  for  1841  amounted  to 56,770.00 

Sales  for  1842  amounted  to 12,977.00 

Sales  for  1843  amounted  to 16,046.00 

Total,  1830  to  1843 $1,197,720.39 

Purchases  during  same  period.  . .  .      813,096.00 

Balance,    $384,624.39 

The  most  important  articles  of  this  trade  were  cotton  and 
woolen  yarn  and  cloth,  hats,  wool,  whiskey,  blankets  and  flan- 
nels. The  Bills  of  Lading  show  large  shipments  of  leather,  cider, 
plants,  apples,  flax  seed  oil,  flour,  fruit  trees,  hides  and  wine. 
Shipments  were  made  to  all  points  in  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi 
valleys,  from  Pittsburg  to  New  Orleans,  and  to  points  as  far  east 
as  Boston  and  Springfield,  Mass. 

While  the  Society  was  thus  engaged  in  manufacturing,  it 
was  also  engaged  in  agriculture  on  a  large  scale.  The  following 
memorandum,  by  Mr.  Baker,  of  Harmonie  Harvests,  shows  the 
extent  of  their  agricultural  operations  from  1816  to  1865  : 

MEMORANDUM  OF  HARMONY  HARVESTS. 
Wheat.  Rye.  Spelt. 

Year.     Acres.        Doz.     Bushels.      Acres.     Bu.  Acres.     Bu. 

1816  5,972   2,700        1,000      7     464 

1817  206    15,367   5,679     50  1,127     32    1,495 

1818  250    13,644   6,236     50   954     30^  1,185 


io8 


The  Harmony  Society. 


1819 
1820 
1821 
1822 
1823 
1824 
1825 
1826 
1827 
1828 
1829 
1830 


1816 
1817 
1818 
1819 
1820 
1821 
1822 
1823 
1824 
1825 
1826 
1827 
1828 
1829 
1830 


1831 
1832 

1833 
1834 
1835 
1836 


3i6^ 

355 
296 
262 

239 
306 

80 

90 

172 
200 


16,720 

19^975 

14.390 

13,812 

10,813 

16,000 

3,621 

4,804 

12,865 

7,922 

12,779 
I5»276 


Barley. 
Year.  Acres.  Bushels. 


9 
20 

49 
62 

45 

72 

46 
5i 
13 

35 

5i 
43 


723 
1,189 
1,460 
3.070 
1,811 
1,678 
J.930 
2,329 

231 

776 
i,738 
1,463 

880 

1,413 


6,409 
7,674 
4.907 
4,167 
3.558 
5.545 
1.350 
1,641 

4.353 
2,370 
3.7o6 
5.231 


45  1,136 

54  i,55o 

36  935 

92  1,066 

40  820 


30 

44 
52 

53 
5i 


843 
923 
816 

976 
901 

844 
1,060 


Oats. 
Acres.     Bushels. 


100 

75 
102 

98 

122 

179 
170 

150 
60 

115 

200 

217 


Wheat. 
Acres     Bu. 

3,724 
1,063 

3.179 
3.652 
3.606 
3.300 


Rye. 
Acres     Bu. 
1,086 
1,156 
580 
284 
1,326 
601 


1,700 

3.099 
2,704 
4,085 
1,764 
3.330 
4,58o 
4.840 
4,042 
2,025 

3.372 
4,961 
5.8oo 

5.234 
7.567 

Barley. 
Acr.     Bu. 

1.387 
562 

989 
900 

974 
1,058 


44 
40 
22 

25 
20 


1.758 
I.39I 
1,159 
1,239 
1,003 
10 
45 


Corn. 
Acres.     Bushels. 


162 
206 
191 
158 

135 


8,892 
8,246 


10,700 
5.133 
5.133 


Oats. 
Acr.     Bu. 

5.097 
4.974 
4,751 
5.732 
7,022 

4.974 


Corn 
Bu. 


The  Harmony  Society.  109 


1837 

147 

4,071 

50 

1,274 

22        760 

97 

3,396 

1838 

no 

2,912 

30 

754 

10   465 

130 

4,677 

1839 

130 

4.3" 

1,109 

1,051 

6,156 

1840 

3^575 

830 

674 

5.585 

1841 

133 

2,540 

32 

847 

4    197 

132 

5,248 

1842 

3,606 

846 

498 

5,283 

1843 

3,613 

742 

514 

4.363 

1844 

3,196 

296 

421 

5,146 

1845 

1,694 

34 

183 

2,633 

1846 

3458 

335 

147 

4,268 

1847 

1703 

564 

156 

4402 

1848 

2,029 

352 

722 

4,696 

1849 

2,016 

435 

544 

3,076 

1850 

1,972 

449 

559 

3,319 

1851 

3,H4 

527 

659 

2,765 

1852 

2,100 

683 

512 

3-735 

1853 

1,727 

488 

444 

2,500 

1854 

2,100 

534 

583 

3,86i 

1855 

2,841 

53i 

585 

3,661 

5,ooo 

1856 

2,073 

3,70 

559 

4.592 

2,880 

1857 

2,394 

534 

635 

4,406 

3,240 

1858 

1,529 

434 

400 

3,291 

2,430 

1859 

i,839 

398 

447 

2,310 

4,160 

i860 

1.512 

498 

577 

4,077 

1861 

2-73^ 

432 

380 

3.650 

1862 

2,812 

649 

240 

2,480 

1863 

2,684 

372 

355 

2,952 

1864 

2,094 

918 

221 

2,987 

1865 

1,695 

390 

3i4 

2,422 

Q 

uantity  of  grain  sowed  in 

one  acre :  Rye,  1  bushel ;  Wheat, 

1  bushel ;  Winter  B; 

irley, 

iJ/2  bu< 

shel ;  Summer 

Barle} 

U  134  bi 

.ishel ; 

Buckwheat,  y2  bushel;  Spelt,  2  bushels;  Oats,  2  bushels;  Flax- 
seed, 1*4  bushels;  Hempseed,  3  bushels;  Rapeseed,  1  quart;  Tur- 
nip seed,  ]/2  pint;  Timothy,  3  quarts;  Blue  Grass,  1  quart;  Herd 
Grass,  1  quart ;  Clover,  3  quarts. 

In  addition  to  above  crops,  beans,  clover,  timothy,  rape  and 
buckwheat  were  also  raised. 


no  The  Harmony  Society. 

Another  memorandum  gives  a  statement  of  the  liquors  made 
in  1863,  viz. : 

Catawba  wine 27  bbls. 

Currant  wine  147  bbls. 

Boiled  cider 69  bbls. 

Common  cider    59  bbls. 

Crab  cider   85  bbls. 

Beer   42  bbls. 

Brandy    6     5  bbls. 

Whiskey    244  bbls. 

December  31,  1863,  the  liquors  on  hand  were: 

Whiskey    519  bbls. 

Boiled  cider 215  bbls. 

Crab  cider   65  bbls. 

Common  cider 30  bbls. 

Beer 20  bbls. 

Currant  wine   303  bbls. 

Catawba  wine 101  bbls. 

Apple  Brandy 18  bbls. 

Catawba  Brandy   4  bbls. 

Peach  Brandy 5  bbls. 

Vinegar   90  bbls. 

Apple  syrup 8  bbls. 

Brandy   3  bbls. 

Champagne  wine 18  bbls. 

Champagne  cider    16  bbls. 

At  the  same  time  the  Society  owned  22  horses,  5  colts,  44 
sheep  and  73  hogs. 

In  1864  the  liquor  made  was : 

Currant  wine   118  bbls. 

Grape  wine 20  bbls. 

Boiled  cider 245  bbls. 

Not  boiled  cider 65  bbls. 

Crab  cider   45  bbls. 

Beer    89  bbls. 

Cider  for  vinegar 60  bbls. 

Rye  whiskey    181  bbls. 

404  bbls.  of  whiskey  on  hand. 


The  Harmony  Society. 


m 


In  1866  the  amounts  were  made: 

Beer 84  bbls. 

Currant  wine   15  bbls. 

Catawba  wine 29  bbls. 

Cider    595  bbls. 

Vinegar   70  bbls. 

Whiskey    152  bbls. 

In  1863  the  woolen  factory  was  still  in  operation  on  a  small 
scale. 

In  that  year  1,227  yards  of  goods  were  woven. 
Mr.  Baker  made  an  estimate  of  the  value  of  the  Society's 
property  in  the  years  1863  to  1866. 
This  estimate  was : 
1863. 

Mortgages  $141,661 

Bonds   551,000 

Stocks 87,010 

Real  Estate 177,699 

Cash 57,339 


$1,014,709 


1864. 

Mortgages  $131,185 

Stocks 95,413 

Bonds  707,321 

Agreements    3-25° 

Real  Estate 274,535 

Cash 10,736 


1865. 

Mortgages    

Bonds  

Stocks  

Cash   

Real   Estate    

Interest  &  Divids.  . 


$185,546 
736,000 
.    70,000 
19,900- 

274,535 
52,498 


1866. 
Mortgages 

Bonds 

Stocks  

Real  Estate 
Cash    


$1,338,479 


183,030 
836,000 
132,263 
650.000 
17-550 


$1,222,440  $1,818,843 

These  estimates  do  not  include  their  establishment  at  Econ- 
omy which  was  valued  at  $209,734.00  at  an  earlier  period. 

This  estimate  gives  a  picture  of  Economy  at  its  highest  in- 
dustrial development. 

1  brick  store  house $2,500.00 

I  family  warehouse    200.00 

1  brick  house  for  mechanics 3,000.00 

1  large  brick  dwelling  for  Museum.  .       4,500.00 


112  The  Harmony  Society. 

I  tavern    3,500.00 

1  church 3,500.00 

2  bells  and  clocks 2,500.00 

1  new  granary 1,500.00 

1  brewery   1,000.00 

1  distillery 800.00 

1  soap   boiling  shop 400.00 

3  steam  wash  houses 225.00 

1  barn  with  threshing  machine 800.00 

1  steam  engine  to  do  it 1,000.00 

Stables   1,800.00 

1  house  with  wine  press 250.00 

2  fire  engines 600.00 

George  Rapp's  house  and  stables. .  4,000.00 

1  tannery 1,500.00 

1  hat  shop    400.00 

1  blacksmith  shop,  5  furnaces 400.00 

I  wagon  maker's  shop 100.00 

1  saddler's  shop 100.00 

1  turner   shop 150.00 

1  linen  weaving  shop 350.00 

I  tinner's  shop 100.00 

1  carpenter  shop 150.00 

1  potter  shop   150.00 

1  doctor's  shop   100.00 

1    silk  worm  house 500.00 

1  cooper  shop 100.00 

1  oil  and  saw  mill 1,000.00 

1  school  house 600.00 

1  old  granary 400.00 

43  family  brick  houses  at  $600 25,800.00 

6  double  frame  houses  at  $600 3,600.00 

47  single  frame  houses  at  $500 23,500.00 

8  small  frame  houses  at  $350 2,800.00 

9  one-story  frame  houses  at  $200.  . .  .  1,800.00 

2,976  acres  of  land  at  $20 59,520.00 

Cotton  factory  and  machinery 20,503.00 

Grist  mill  and  machinery 9,000.00 

Woolen  factory  and  machinery....  25,036.00 

$209,734.00 


FI.OUR    Mlht,    AT    ECONOMY. 


SII.K     FACTORY    AT    ECONOMY. 


The  Harmony  Society.  113 

In  1846,  as  was  shown  by  the  investigation  in  the  Xachtricb 
suit,  the  total  value  of  the  Society's  property  was  $901,723.42. 

The  year  1866  was  probably  the  high  water  mark  of  the  So- 
ciety's material  prosperity.  True  large  increase  in  the  value  of 
their  real  estate  in  that  year  was  due  to  the  development  of  oil 
production.  It  was  before  the  epoch  of  their  foreign  investments, 
which  proved  so  costly. 

From  1830  to  1850  attempts  were  made  in  many  parts  of  the 
United  States  to  raise  silk.  Probably  the  earliest,  and  at  any 
rate  the  most  successful,  of  these  experiments  was  made  by  the 
Harmony  Society.  This  enterprise  was  conducted  with  the  same 
energy  and  intelligence  as  their  other  industries,  and  they  suc- 
ceeded in  manufacturing  most  beautiful  silk.  An  exhibit  of  their 
silk  fabrics,  which  was  arranged  for  the  Columbian  Exposition  at 
Chicago,  may  be  seen  at  Economy  to-day.  Owing  to  an  unfavor- 
able climate  the  process  of  raising  the  silk  worms  was  expensive, 
and  they  were  not  able  to  manufacture  silk  goods  at  prices  which 
could  compete  with  foreign  fabrics.  They  had  begun  the  culture 
of  silk  with  the  purpose  of  supplying  their  own  needs.* 

Soon  after  the  settlement  of  Economy,  a  friend  of  Father 
Rapp's  sent  him  some  silk  worms  with  some  suggestions  in  re- 
gard to  silk  culture.  In  1826  they  raised  the  first  silk.  In  the 
following  years  they  continued  experimenting.  They  were  en- 
couraged in  1838  to  enter  into  the  business  on  a  larger  scale. 

Their  experiment  attracted  the  attention  of  many  persons 
in  the  United  States,  who  were  interested  in  the  matter.  From 
all  parts  of  the  country  inquiries  came  to  them  in  regard  to  ma- 
chinery for  silk  manufacturing,  for  silk  worms,  and  information 
on  the  subject.  The  Society  took  great  pains  in  answering  these 
inquiries  in  the  hope  of  contributing  to  the  development  of  an- 
other national  industry.  They  frequently  invited  their  corre- 
spondents to  visit  them  and  see  for  themselves  their  establish- 
ment. Miss  Gertrude  Rapp,  grand  daughter  of  George  Rapp, 
was  Superintendent  of  the  silk  business.  From  1842  to  1852  a  spe- 
cial letter  book  was  kept,  containing  correspondence  in  regard  to 
silk.  The  first  letter  in  the  collection  is  by  Miss  Rapp,  at  that 
time  34  years  of  age. 

♦George  Rapp  to  W.  R.  Schetterly,  September  26,  1845. 


114  The  Haiuwiiy  Society. 

"Economy,  February  14,  1842. 
Mr.  William  C.  Hickman, 

West  Chester,  Chester  Co.,  Pa. 
Your  favor  of  the  nth  of  January  last  came  to  hand.  I  have 
now  at  last  found  time  to  attend  to  a  number  of  letters  about 
the  silk  business  which  have  been  accumulating  on  my  table.  In 
reply  to  your  inquiries,  I  will  state  that  our  principal  cocoonery, 
two-story,  is  25  feet  wide  and  57  feet  long,  with  common  board 
shelves.  Our  first  crop  in  the  spring  was  5  ounces,  producing 
781  pounds  of  cocoons.  After  this  crop,  we  varied  in  the  quan- 
tity of  eggs.  We  raised  about  fifteen  crops  after  the  first,  yield- 
ing from  100  to  400  pounds  of  cocoons ;  our  whole  crop  was  4,435 
pounds.  The  spring  crops  are  always  better  than  the  later,  or 
those  in  the  fall.  Our  crops  are  mostly  a  week  apart.  We  keep 
no  account  of  hands  employed.  Our  worms  spun  mostly  at  the 
age  of  23  to  28  days.  When  small,  we  feed  eight  to  ten  times, 
during  the  day  only;  in  the  last  age,  five  or  eight  times  during 
the  day,  and  some  were  fed  once  in  the  night  in  order  to  hasten 
their  growth.  We  clean  them  once  in  the  first  age,  twice  in  the 
second,  three  times  in  the  third,  and  once  a  day  in  the  fourth. 
For  the  two  first  ages  of  the  worm,we  consider  8o°  Fahr.  well 
adapted;  afterwards  from  750  to  JJ° .  In  our  ice  house  we  keep 
the  eggs  at  a  temperature  of  400  to  500.  When  taken  out,  we 
expose  them  to  55 °,  then  to  6o°,  65 °,  700,  75 °  to  8o°  ;  in  the  last 
they  hatch.  They  are  left  from  two  to  three  days  in  one  tempera- 
ture, and  will  by  this  mode  require  ten  to  twelve  days  after  they 
are  moved  from  the  ice  house  until  they  hatch.  We  feed  leaves 
altogether.  During  spinning  time,  we  give  a  temperature  of  75  ° 
to  8o°.  We  always  try  to  avoid  a  sudden  change  of  air  by  using 
furnaces,  which  are  very  useful,  especially  in  damp  weather. 
Frequent  feeding  is  advantageous  in  all  stages,  day  or  night. 
Sudden  changes  in  temperature  are  very  injurious  to  both  eggs 
and  worm,  and  if  they  are  not  kept  warm  during  the  spin,  the 
cocoons  will  not  reel  well.  With  the  exception  of  a  few  attacks 
of  diseases  among  the  worms,  we  have  done  very  well  last  sea- 
son ;  but  one  of  them  was  attended  with  serious  consequences. 
It  is  supposed  the  cause  was  in  not  taking  sufficient  care  in  ven- 
tilating. Yours  truly, 

GERTRUDE  RAPP." 


The  Harmony  Society.  115 

August  30,  1844,  Miss  Rapp  sent  an  exhibit  of  her  silk  goods 
to  the  Boston  Fair.     This  exhibit  consisted  of: 

id>2  yards  ladies'  figured  dress  silk,  at  $1.25  per  yard. 
134  yards  figured  velvet  vesting,  at  $6.00  per  yard. 
4  yards  bird's  eye  vesting,  at  $2.00  per  yard. 
12  yards  figured  satin  vesting,  at  $3.00  per  yard. 
6  figured  bordered  shawls,  blue,  $1.50  a  piece. 
1  white  pocket  handkerchiefs,  $i.i2rj  a  piece. 
1   floss  silk. 

This  exhibit  was  awarded  a  gold  medal. 
In  1838  Miss  Rapp  had  exhibited  specimens  of  black  and  fig- 
ured satin  vestings,  for  which  the  Franklin  Institute  of  Pennsyl- 
vania awarded  her  a  testimonial  of  approbation. 

September  5,  1844,  she  sent  to  the  American  Institute,  New 
York,   for  exhibition. 

10  yards  figured  dress  silk,  $1.25  per  yard. 
4  yards  figured  velvet  vesting,  $6.00  per  yard. 
12  yards  figured  satin  vesting,  $3.00  per  yard. 

4^4  yards  bird's  eye  satin  vesting,  $2.00  per  yard. 
6  blue  red  border  shawls,  $1.50  a  piece. 
6  white  shawls,  $1.50  a  piece. 
12  white  pocket  handkerchiefs,  %i.i2l/2  a  piece. 
4  pieces  flowered  ribbon,  14^  yards. 
8  pieces  plain  ribbon,   127  yards. 
These  are  the  Economy  retail  prices.     This  exhibit  obtained 
a  gold  medal  as  a  special  award. 

With  this  exhibit  Miss  Rapp  sent  the  following  letter  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  Institute,  in  which  she  shows  a  just  pride  in 
what  she  has  accomplished : 

"Economy,  Pa.,  September  25,  1844. 
T.  B.  Wakeman,  Esq., 

Corresponding  Secretarv  of  the  American  Institute.  X.  Y. 
Sir: 

In  conformity  to  the  request  expressed  in  the  circular  of 
your  institute  of  July  1,  1844,  I  send  you  for  exhibition,  some  of 
our  latest  manufactured  silk  goods  as  p^r  invoice  annexed : — 
They,  with  those  from  other  sources,  will  serve  as  facts,  by  which 
all  reasonable  doubters  mav  be  conclusively  convinced  that  the 


n6  The  Harmony  Society. 

production  and  manufacture  of  silk,  this  new  and  most  important 
branch  of  national  industry,  for  the  promotion  of  which  your  in- 
stitute evinces  such  a  praiseworthy  zeal,  is  as  possible,  and  can 
be  carried  on  as  successfully  in  this  country  as  in  any  other  on 
the  globe.     I  have  even  the  pleasure  to  be  able  to  maintain  that 
we  can  do  here  what  probably  has  never  been  done  in  any  of 
the  old  silk-growing  countries,  namely,  to  go  in  regular  succession 
through  th£  whole  process  of  the  silk  business  in  one  season,  be- 
ginning with  the  raising  and  gathering  of  the  mulberry  seed  and 
ending  with  the  manufacture  of  the  woven  fabric.     All  of  which 
I  can  prove  by  the  following  facts :  On  the  30th  and  31st  of  May 
this  year,  we  gathered  a  quantity  of  mulberry  seed  from  a  num- 
ber of  choice  trees  of  the  Canton  mulberry,  which  is  the  earliest 
of  all  the  kinds  we  are  acquainted  with.  On  the  following  day, 
June  1st,  we  planted  part  of  that  seed  in  regular  rows  in  several 
well  prepared  beds.  In  about  10  days  the  seed  came  up  finely,  and 
as  the  weather  was  favorable,  and  no  weeds  were  suffered  to  grow 
with  the  young  trees,  they  progressed  beautifully  and  vigorously, 
so  that  on  August  1st,  we  were  able  to  commence  the  feeding 
of  a  small  lot  of  worms  on  the  foliage  of  them ;  and  as  both 
worms  and  trees  continued  to  grow  in  good  proportion,  the  qual- 
ity of  the  leaves  was  always  very  suitable  to  the  age  of  the 
worms.     On  the  26th  of  the  same  month,  they  commenced  wind- 
ing and  produced  a  small  lot  of  very  fine  cocoons,  the  greatest 
part  of  which  we  reeled,  spun,  twisted,  colored  and  manufac- 
tured into  ribbon,  the  rest  we  kept  for  seed  and  other  purposes. 
Samples  of  which  I  send  you  with  the  other  silk  goods.     They 
may  be  exhibited  as  a  representation  of  the  entire  silk  business 
as  performed  in  one  season ;  and  after  the  fair,  the  worthy  insti- 
tute will  please  accept  them  as  a  present.     Said  samples  are  put 
together  in  the  following  manner: 

1.  Some  Canton  mulberry  seed,  gathered  May  30,  1844. 

2.  Three  Canton  mulberry  trees,  raised  from  that  seed,  sown 
June  1st,  taken  out  of  the  ground  September  23d,  measuring 
without  roots,  from  3  feet  4  inches  to  3  foet  6  inches. 

3.  A  leaf  from  those  trees. 

4.  Three  cocoons  from  worms  fed  on  the  foliage  of  said  trees, 
hatched  August  1st,  spun  August  26th. 


LAUNDRY    AT    ECONOMY, 


COACH  AND  FIRE  KNCINK  OF  HARMONY  SOCIETY 


The  Harmony  Society.  117 

5.  Three  cocoons  perforated  by  the  moth,  September  20th. 

6.  Some  silk  worm  eggs  produced  by  these  moths. 

7.  Two  skeins  of  raw  silk,  2  skeins  of  colored  silk  and  4  yards 
of  ribbon  manufactured  from  those  cocoons.  We  have  about  9 
acres  of  common  and  Canton  Multicaulis  trees,  and  about  as 
many  acres  covered  with  the  Italian  and  Brusa.  We  commenced 
the  raising  and  manufacture  of  silk  on  a  small  scale  in  1826,  and 
increased  it  gradually  as  our  trees,  experience  and  knowledge  in- 
creased. Of  the  amount  of  cocoons  prior  to  1838,  we  have  no 
correct  memorandum.  The  total  for  6  years  previous  to  this 
present  is  20,766  pounds.  Last  year's  product  was  5,111  pounds. 
We  have  never  bought  nor  sold  any  cocoons  or  raw  silk,  but 
have  manufactured  all  we  raised  into  a  variety  of  silk  fabrics. 

Respectfully  yours, 

GERTRUDE  RAPP." 

June  15,  1845,  she  wrote  in  regard  to  gaining  those  prizes  to 
Mr.  J.  R.  Babour,  Oxford,  Mass. 

"In  both  cities,  therefore,  our  silks  have  met  the  approba- 
tion of  the  public.  It  is  very  gratifying  to  our  friends,  as  well 
as  to  myself,  to  hear  of  so  good  a  result,  as  you  are  well  aware, 
that  each  one  here  pays  strict  attention  to  the  duty  allotted." 

Everything  was  done  to  insure  continued  success.  Fresh 
worms  were  imported  from  France.*  Efforts  were  also  made  to 
obtain  fresh  supplies  in  this  country.  French  and  English  me- 
chanics were  employed  to  instruct  in  the  erection  of  machinery 
and  the  manufacture  of  silk.  The  Society  joined  in  an  effort  to 
secure  a  tariff  which  would  enable  them  to  manufacture  silk  at 
a  profit. 

In  1846  an  exhibit  of  their  silk  was  sent  to  Washington,  D. 
C,  for  exhibition  to  Congress  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  protec- 
tive legislation.     April  25,  1846,  the  following  letter  was  written 
to  Mr.  John  A.  Ewing,  a  member  of  Congress : 
"Dear  Sir: 

Agreeable  to  your  request  of  the  12th  inst.,  I  put  up  one  box, 

containing   articles   set    forth    in   the    annexed    statement.— The' 

silks  are  all  made  of  the  raw  material  raised  here  by  ourselves. 

Our  Society  consuming  the  most  of  our  silks,  we  have  not  been 

•  Henrici  to  If.  Laforte,  October  4,  1845. 


n8  The  Harmony  Society. 

able  to  wholesale  them  yet.  The  problem  is  now  fully  solved. 
We  can  produce  the  raw  material  and  also  the  goods  in  this 
country,  as  well  as  any  other  country. — It  is  expensive  to  obtain 
at  home  and  abroad  the  proper  machinery  to  make  with  facility 
the  variety  of  goods  sent  you.  We  have  French  and  English 
workmen  hired  at  high  wages,  by  whom  our  people  received  in- 
struction in  erecting  machinery  and  in  manufacturing  the  silks. 
That  manufacturers  require  the  protection  and  care  of  a  govern- 
ment is  abundantly  shown  by  the  European  system,  and  the 
same  system  has  been  fully  and  strongly  recommended  by  our 
best  statesmen  since  the  formation  of  this  government. 

The  two  large  shawls  have  been  sent  merely  to  show.  We 
have  made  a  lot  of  them  for  our  own  people,  and  would  prefer 
to  receive  them  back.  Supposing  that  all  kinds  of  domestic  wool- 
ens will  be  sent  from  the  East,  I  send  only  a  few  blankets,  which 
will  be  found  a  good  article. 

Respectfully, 

GEORGE  RAPP." 

The  invoice  of  silk  goods  and  woolen  blankets  sent  for  exhi- 
bition is : 

15  yards  figured  ladies'  dress  silk,  per  yard,  $1.25 

i>4  yards  bird's  eye  vesting per  yard,  $1.25 

3  yards  blue  figured  satin  vesting.  . .  .per  yard,  $2.50 
3  yards  black  figured  satin  vesting,,  .per  yard,  $2.50 
3  yards  black  figured  satin  vesting,  .per  yard,  $2.50 
3  yards  brown  large  fig.  satin  vesting,  per  yd.,  $3.00 

i~y2  yards  extra  figured  velvet per  yard,  $5.00 

3  yards  brown  figured  velvet per  yard,  $5.00 

3  white  figured  dress  shawls a  piece,  $1.50 

3  blue  figured  dress  shawls, a  piece,  $1.50 

6  white  figured  pocket  handkerchiefs,  a  piece,  $1.25 
6  white  plain  pocket  handkerchiefs,  a  piece,  $1.12 
6  black  silk  cravats,  $1.50. 
2  large,  rich  bordered  shawls. 
9  pair  10-4  blankets,  per  pair,  $7.50. 
The  Society  was  disappointed  in  its  hope  of  developing  the 
silk   industry.     Miss   Rapp  wrote   September  25,    1847*    to   Mr. 
A.  C.  Von  Epps: 


The  Harmony  Society.  i  ig, 

"In  reply  to  your  kind  favor  of  the  9th  ult.,  I  am  sorry  to 
have  to  state,  that  we  have  for  many  years  devoted  a  great  deal 
of  time  to  give  answers  to  a  large  number  of  letters  on  the  sub- 
ject of  silk,  but  have  effected  very  little.  We  have,  therefore, 
come  to  the  conclusion,  to  discontinue  any  correspondence  on 
that  point.  We  have  always  been,  and  still  are,  willing  to  give 
verbal  instruction  to  practical  silk  growrers  and  manufacturers." 

]  10m  1844  the  silk  industry  at  Economy  seems  to  have  de- 
clined. The  amount  of  cocoons  and  raw  silk  produced  from  1838 
to  1845,  was: 

1838,  1,440  lbs.   cocoons;   151   lbs.  of  raw  silk. 

1839,  1,855  lbs-   cocoons;   168  lbs.  of  raw  silk. 

1840,  2,389  lbs.   cocoons;  218  lbs.  of  raw  silk. 

1841,  4,435  lbs.  cocoons;  340  lbs.  of  raw  silk. 

1842,  5,535   lbs.   cocoons;  237  lbs.   of  raw  silk. 

1843,  5>IIT   lbs  cocoons. 

1844,  3,326  lbs.  cocoons. 
J845,  3,505   lbs.   cocoons. 

Between  1838  and  1842  the  Society  received  from  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania,  $3,688.00,  as  a  bounty  on  silk  produced  by 
them. 

The  cocoonery  was  in  operation  in  1852,  but  silk  growing 
was  abandoned  at  Economy  not  long  after  that  time. 

Miss  Gertrude  Rapp,  the  Superintendent  of  the  silk  industry, 
was  the  granddaughter  of  George  Rapp.  She  was  born  at  Har- 
mony, August  31,  t8o8,  and  died  at  Economy,  December  27, 
1889.  Her  whole  life  was  lived  in  the  Society.  To  have  pro- 
duced such  a  personality  as  hers  would  be  a  credit  to  any  com- 
munity. Her  letter  to  Louisa  Weil,  quoted  above,  shows  her 
to  have  been  a  refined,  modest  and  most  kindly  woman,  disclaim- 
ing all  credit  for  good  works  and  ready  to  love  even  those  that 
had  harmed  her.  The  silk  letters  just  quoted,  show  that  she  had 
a  rare  talent  for  business. 

When  young,  she  had  b&en  carefully  educated.  At  the  age 
of  15,  she  assisted  her  grandfather  in  writing  his  journal.  The 
older  men  of  the  Society,  when  away  from  the  house,  liked  to 
write  to  her,  when  she  was  still  a  child.  The  letter  from  Mr. 
Baker  describing  the  launching  of  the  steamboat,  has  been  given. 


120  The  Harttwny  Society. 

A  letter  from  Frederick  Rapp  to  her,  in  1830,  when  she  was  22 
years  old,  shows  that  she  was  already  directing  the  silk  industry. 

„New  York,  Sonntag  Abend,  den  19.  September  1830. 
Gertrud ! 

Dieweil  ich  Zeit  habe,  so  berichte  ich  dich,  dass  unsere  Reise 
bis  jetzt  gut  abgeloffen  ist.     Ich  war  immer  gesund,  und  der 
Miiller  hat  das  Fahren  besser  ausgehalten  als  ich  glaubte.     Ich 
habe  deine  presents  nun  alle  iiberliefert;  sie  sind  gut  aufgenom- 
men  worden,  besonders  von  Mr.  Graff's  Tochtern  und  der  Wald- 
burg.     Von  alien  habe  Gegengeschenke  fur  dich,     Gestern  habe 
Miss  Greenfield  ihres  eingehandigt ;  sie  war  sehr  froh  darliber. 
Heute  speisten  wir  mit  ihnen  zu  Mittag;  morgen  gehen  wir  nach 
Long  Island  in  Prinzes  Garden  um  seine  Weinstocke  zu  sehen. 
Nach  diesem  werden  wir  uns  noch  ein  paar  Tage  hier  aufhalten, 
ein  Piano  fur  das  Concert  kaufen,  und  etwas  Musik,  und  dann 
nach  Haus  zu,  den  Canal  nach  Erie  hinaufgehen,  welches  unge- 
fahr  7  Tage  von  hier  nehmen  wird.     Es  ist  uns  nichts  besonders 
vorgekommen.     In   Philadelphia   hatte  ich  vieles  zu  thun   und 
hatte  nicht  Zeit  Besuche  zu  machen.     Der  Waldburg  ist  es  sehr 
leid,  dass  sie  nicht  mit  uns  vor  18  Monaten  in  der  Economy  ist, 
sie  glaubt  gewiss  wurde  sie  dort  geblieben  sein.     Ich  habe  ihren 
Mann  nicht  gesehen,  er  ist  in  Litiz.     Es  hat  sie  geriehen,  dass 
sie  geheirathet   hat.     Keine   gute    Musik   habe   noch   nicht   ge- 
hort.     Von  Seiden  werde  ich  viel  gefragt.     Sie  hatten  mich  in 
Baltimore  und  Philadelphia  in  der  Zeitung,  dass  ich  eine  heim- 
gemachte  Weste  und  Halstuch  trage,  und  haben  mich  deshalb  in 
den  Strassen  gestellt,  um  es  zu  sehen.  .  Ich  habe  einen  bessern 
Haspel,  als  der  unsere,  gefunden,  auch  habe  in  Philadelphia  eine 
doubling  und  twisting  machine  bestellt.  —  In  Philadelphia  habe 
sechzehn  Madchen  in  einem  Zimmer  mit  8  Reels  im  Gang  ge- 
sehen.    Sie  thun  nicht  mehr  als  die  unsrigen ;  fur  das  Pfund  Co- 
coons bezahlen  sie  von  35  zu  40  cents.     Letzten  Dienstag  und 
Mittwoch  habe  ich  die  Exhibition  of  the  Franklin  Institute  ge- 
sehen.    Es   war   zum   bewundern   wie   viele   schone   Sachen   zu 
sehen  waren ;  auch  viele  Seide ;  nachstes  Jahr  hoffe  ich,  wirst  du 
das  Premium  fiir  seidenen  Westen-Stoff  erhalten.  —  Ich  habe 
Mr.  Smith  in  Baltimore  ein  Pattern  fiir  eine  Weste  versprochen, 
welches  ihn  mehr  freuen  wird,  als  $100.     Ich  hoffe  es  wird  bei 


in  the;  park  at  economy. 


IN  THE  PARK  AT  ECONOMY. 


The  Harmony  Society.  ui 

euch  alles  gesund  sein,  und  wird  mich  freuen  euch  so  bald  zu 
sehen. 

Indcssen  griisse  dich, 

KRIEDRICH  RAPP." 

Her  education  comprised  English,  French  and  German.  She 
learned  to  make  embroidery,  and  wax  fruit  and  flowers,  which 
appear  to  have  been  accomplishments  of  the  time.  Some  fine 
specimens  of  her  work  m  this  latter  field  are  still  to  be  seen. 
But  that  in  which  she  took  the  most  delight  was  music,  both 
vocal  and  instrumental.  In  this  she  shared  a  taste  which  was 
common  to  all  the  members  of  th/e  Society.  She  had  for  a  time 
as  tutor  and  teacher  of  music,  Mr.  W.  C.  Peters,  from  whose  in- 
struction she  profited  greatly.  Her  friends,  of  whom  she  had 
many,  frequently  mention  musical  events  in  their  letters  to  her, 
and  think  that  no  present  will  be  so  much  appreciated  by  her, 
as  a  piece  of  music. 

The  following  letter  to  Mary  and  Ann  Graff,  of  Philadelphia, 
affords  a  glimpse  of  what  made  life  in  Economy  agreeable,  even 
to  a  young  woman  of  culture : 

"Economy,  August  20,  1830. 
Dear  Mary  and  Ann : 

Our  Museum  of  Natural  Curiosities,  which  is  superintended 
by  Christ.  Miiller,  who  accompanied  my  uncle  to  Philadelphia, 
is  still  increasing.  Most  all  visitors  to  Economy  go  to  see  it, 
since  establishments  of  this  kind  are  very  rare  in  the  western 
country,  and  never  found  in  towns  the  size  of  ours.  Our  band 
of  music  is  also  in  an  improving  state,  of  which  Mr.  Mtkller  is  the 
leader,  who  can  give  you  all  the  particulars  of  the  subject. 

My  attention  to  silk  worms,  piano  forte  and  family  concerns 
has  left  me  little  time  to  apply  to  embroidery.  My  progress  in 
this  branch  has  been  very  limited  indeed. 

I  should  be  very  much  rejoiced  to  see  you  in  Economy.  It 
is  not  convenient  that  I  should  accompany  my  uncle  at  this  time. 

Your  friend, 

GERTRUDE  RAPP." 


122  The    Harmony    Society. 

The  reply  from  her  friends  mentions  the  attendance  of  Fred- 
erick Rapp  and  Mr.  Mliller  at  tne  French  opera  in  Philadelphia. 

"Philadelphia,  Pa.,  September  14,  1830. 
Dear  Girl : 

We  received  the  presents  you  were  so  kind  as  to  send  us  by 
your  uncle.  The  box  is  beautiful.  You  deserve  a  great  deal  of 
credit  for  your  patience  as  well  as  taste  in  the  arrangement  of  it. 
We  were  quite  astonished  at  the  stockings,  not  having  the  slight- 
est idea  that  silk  could  be  manufactured  in  any  way  in  this  coun- 
try.— We  should  have  been  glad  had  you  been  here  to  see  the 
French  opera.  We  went  to  see  the  "Maid  and  the  Magpie"  last 
week.  The  music  composed  by  Rossini,  the  solos,  duets,  etc., 
handsomely  sung.  The  plot  of  the  piece  is  no  great  thing.  The 
performers  were  generally  stiff,  and  we,  not  understanding  the 
French  language  so  well,  were  not  so  much  interested  as  if  it 
had  been  English.  We  saw  your  uncle  and  Dr.  Muller  there. 
Ask  them  for  further  particulars.  "Der  Freischtitz"  will  be  per- 
formed next  week.  We  saw  it  last  winter,  the  music  is  so  fine, 
we  intend  seeing  it  again. 

Your  uncle  tells  us  you  are  going  to  the  Falls  of  Niagara. 
That  of  all  places  wre  wish  most  to  see.  Do  write  and  tell  us 
all  you  see  that  interests  you.  We  expect  to  go  to  Baltimore, 
Washington,  etc.,  in  October.  Our  cousins  are  to  be  of  the  party. 
We  look  forward  to  a  great  deal  of  pleasure. 

Ann  has  sent  you  a  pair  of  home-made  fire-screens,  a  pocket 
handkerchief  of  the  latest  fashion,  and  some  songs,  all  of  which 
she  hopes  you  will  use  for  her  sake.  I  send  you  a  purse  of  my 
own  manufacture,  but  your  uncle  tells  me  you  have  made  such 
yourself.  I  am  sorry  it  is  not  more  novel,  and  some  music 
which  I  think  will  please  you. 

Our  family  join  with  us  in  love  to  you,  and  wishing  you  a 
pleasant  journey. 

We  remain,  your  friends, 

MARY  and  ANN  GRAFF." 

An  earlier  letter  from  the  same  friends,  November  22,  1829, 
told  of  the  admiration  of  Frederick  Rapp  for  a  new   painting, 


The  Harmony  Society.  123 

"The  Holy  Family,"  which  their  father  had  just  received.  A  later 
letter  from  Mary  Graff  informs  us  that  Frederick  Rapp  enjoyed 
the  theatre  also: 

"Philadelphia,  October  22,  1822. 
Dear  Gertrude  : 

I  have  selected,  by  your  uncle's  desire,  some  music  for  you. 
I  hope  my  taste  may  agree  with  yours.  They  are  from  the  new- 
est operas.  The  music  from  the  opera,  "La  Muette  de  Portice," 
is  particularly  admired,  some  of  which  you  will  find  in  the  num- 
ber. Rossini's  music  is  highly  spoken  of.  You  have  two  or 
three  pieces,  and  some  of  x\uber's,  which  is  most  liked  now  in 
Paris.  I  hope  the  day  may  come  when  I  may  hear  you  play 
them. 

Our  city  is  quite  lively.  The  theatres  are  full  every  night. 
Mr.  Kemble  and  his  daughter,  Fannie,  a  most  interesting  young 
lady  of  eighteen,  are  now  performing.  We  saw  her  last  night 
and  were  delighted.  She  is  so  pretty,  graceful,  lively  and  mod- 
est, one  cannot  fail  in  being  pleased.  Your  uncle  and  my  papa 
have  gone  to  see  her  this  evening.  I  expect  they  will  get  a  good 
squeezing  before  they  secure  a  seat.  The  street  before  the  thea- 
tre is  crowded  long  before  the  doors  are  open,  and  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  gain  a  seat. 

\Ye  hear  the  cholera  is  in  Pittsburg.  God  grant  your  place 
may  escape. — Your  place  I  think  will  escape,  as  you  are  all  so 
healthy,  industrious  and  sober.  It  cannot  stay  in  such  a  place,  I 
am  certain. 

Gertrude,  will  you  not  write  to  me  now  and  then?  It  will 
give  me  pleasure  to  hear  from  you. 

I  remain,  yours  affectionately, 

MARY  GRAFF." 

Five  years  later,  Mary  Ann  Hay  Maddox,  the  daughter  of 
the  former  agent  of  the  Society  at  Vincennes,  wrote  to  Miss 
Rapp : 

"I  find  myself  very  often  singing  some  of  the  airs  you  played 
on  the  piano,  particularly  one  of  Mozart's,  which  you  know  I  ad- 
mired verv  much." 


124  The  Harmony  Society. 

Miss  Rapp  was  possessed  of  personal  beauty,  as  well  as  love- 
liness of  character.  Even  in  her  old  age  her  appearance  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  visitors.  Charles  Nordhoff,  in  1874, 
found  her  "admirable."  She  was  the  dignified  and  courteous 
mistress  of  the  "Great  House"  until  her  death.  The  people  of 
the  village  still  speak  of  her  with  the  greatest  respect  and  admi- 
ration. 

Shortly  after  the  Society  had  been  firmly  established  at 
Economy,  took  place  the  secession  under  Count  de  Leon,  which 
threatened  the  disruption  of  the  Society.  Mr.  Williams*  gives 
an  account  of  this  occurrence,  from  which  the  following  is 
taken : 

June  14,  1829,  John  George  Goentgen  wrote  from  Frankfort 
on  the  Main,  to  George  Rapp,  styling  himself  "Samuel,  a  fellow 
servant  and  consecrated  servant  of  God,  in  the  profane  world 
now  really  subsisting,  chief  librarian  of  the  free  city  of  Frank- 
fort, doctor  of  Philosophy  and  Theology."  This  letter  pro- 
claimed the  Anointed  of  the  Lord,  Count  de  Leon,  as  the  Min- 
ister of  Christ,  who  was  coming  to  the  earth  in  the  near  future, 
to  punish  his  enemies  and  reward  his  friends.  In  the  meantime 
the  Anointed  of  the  Lord,  Count  de  Leon,  with  his  followers, 
would  join  the  Harmonists,  the  especially  chosen  of  the  Lord, 
whose  town  was  a  type  of  the  Kingdom  of  God,  where  the  Lord 
would  reveal  himself,  in  order  to  prepare  the  constitution  of  his 
divine  kingdom.  The  Count  de  Leon  was  really  plain  Bernhart 
Mueller,  a  religious  enthusiast,  who  had  collected  a  number  of 
followers.  But  George  Rapp  believed  that  his  community  was 
the  model  of  Christ's  Kingdom,  and  he  was  convinced  that  he 
would  soon  see  Christ  walk  the  streets  of  Harmony  in  person, 
so  he  accepted  the  Count's  statements  without  question  and  in- 
vited him  to  come  to  Economy.  The  next  that  was  heard  of 
Leon  was  in  October,  1831,  when  a  letter  arrived  stating  that  he 
had  arrived  in  New  York,  with  40  persons,  who  desired  to  spend 
the  winter  at  Economy.  Mr.  Rapp  told  him  to  come  on,  which 
he  did  at  once.  He  was  received  with  great  formality  in  the 
church,  but  his  appearance  and  manner  were  such  that  Mr. 
Rapp's  sound  judgment  at  once  asserted  itself.     Leon  made  an 


*The  Harmony  Society,  p.  72. 


The  Harmony  Society.  [25 

address,  expressing  the  belief  that  "this  meeting  is  the  most  im- 
portant event  since  the  creation,  and  that  henceforth  all  the 
troubles  and  sorrows  of  the  Lord's  people  will  cease."  Father 
Rapp  expressed  his  doubt  as  to  this  happy  event  and  dismissed 
the  meeting. 

Some  of  Leon's  followers  put  up  at  the  hotel,  and  five  houses 
were  assigned  for  the  others.  They  were,  however,  to  pay  their 
own  expenses.  (Leon  is  charged  with  supplies  to  the  amount  of 
$894.72,  from  October  31  to  December  31,  1831.)  Conferences 
were  held  between  the  leaders  of  the  two  parties,  at  which  it 
appeared  that  Leon  advocated  a  better  style  of  living,  marriage, 
and  other  things  which  were  not  acceptable  to  the  Harmonists. 
Union  was  out  of  question.  But  it  was  now  winter,  and  Leon 
obtained  permission  to  stay  in  the  town  until  spring.  During 
the  winter  the  discontented  members  of  the  Society,  attracted  by 
his  promises,  allied  themselves  to  him.  A  paper  was  drawn  up 
and  signed  by  those  that  adhered  to  Leon,  numbering  250  men, 
women  and  children.  A  similar  pap^r  was  signed  by  the  ad- 
herents of  the  old  organization,  500  in  number.  There  was 
anarchy  for  a  time.  Finally,  March  6,  1832,  an  agreement  was 
made  between  the  two  parties,  in  accordance  with  which  thue 
adherents  of  Leon,  members  of  the  Society,  were  to  leave  Econ- 
omy within  three  months ;  they  were  to  relinquish  all  claims  on 
the  Society,  taking  with  them  only  their  clothing,  furniture  and 
personal  effects ;  and  were  to  receive  $105,000  and  60,000  francs, 
payable  in  three  installments  within  a  wear.  Of  those  who  went 
with  Leon,  176  had  been  members  of  the  Society.  Their  with- 
drawal left  181  loyal  members.* 

The  seceders  went  10  miles  down  the  river  to  Phillipsburg, 
now  Monaca,  and  purchased  800  acres  of  land.  They  founded 
a  communistic  society,  allowing  marriage.  They  erected  facto- 
ries and  hotels.  Within  a  year  their  money  was  all  gone.  They 
decided  to  extort  more  money  from  the  Harmonists.  April  2, 
1833,  a  mob  of  80  persons  went  to  Economy,  took  possession  of 
the  hotel,  and  laid  their  demand  before  the  authorities.  Their 
demands  were  refused.  The  members  of  the  Society,  following 
instructions,  kept  within  their  houses,  but  toward  evening  their 


♦Record  I,  p.  38. 


126  The  Harmony  Society. 

American  neighbors  collected  and  drove  away  the  invaders. 
The  seceders,  thus  repulsed,  soon  learned  that  the  Count  was 
an  imposter,  and  they  forced  him  to  leave  their  settlement  also. 
They  then  divided  their  property  and  started  anew,  on  the  indi- 
vidual system. 

It  seems  strange  that  the  Harmonists,  who  at  this  time  were 
managing  their  affairs  with  so  much  good  judgment,  should  have 
been  imposed  upon  by  Leon.  This  person  was  probably  acquainted 
with  the  „Gedanken  iiber  die  Bestimmung  des  Menschen,"  in 
which  they  expressed  their  views  and  aspirations.  Leon's  cor- 
respondence reflected  these  same  opinions,  so  that  his  promises 
seemed  but  the  fulfillment  of  that  for  which  they  had  been 
hoping  and  working.  They  were  firmly  convinced,  too,  that  the 
coming  of  Christ  and  the  beginning  of  the  millenium  was  at  hand, 
and  they  expected  the  Saviour  to  appear  among  them.  They 
had  accepted  1836  as  the  date  of  this  event,  the  year  fixed  upon 
by  Bengel  and  Jung-Stilling.* 

With  this  conviction,  they  believed  Leon  when  he  asserted 
that  he  was  a  messenger  to  prepare  for  the  Lord's  coming. 

The  Society,  while  reduced  in  members  by  this  secession, 
was  probably  strengthened  morally,  and  its  industrial  efficiency 
seems  not  to  have  been  impaired.  Probably  as  one  result  of  this 
incident,  the  Harmonists  were  afterwards  adverse  to  proposals 
for  union  with  other  bodies.  Hiram  Rude,  and  some  other 
Shakers,  from  New  Lebanon,  N.  Y.,  visited  Economy  in  1856. 
They  were  well  received,  as  visitors  usually  were.  For  the  next 
two  years,  a  correspondence  was  maintained  between  the 
Shakers  and  the  Harmonists,  Mr.  Henrici  conducting  the  corre- 
spondence for  the  latter,  and  Hiram  Rude  and  Betsy  Bates, 
chiefly,  for  the  former.  Shaker  hymns  and  music  were  sent,  the 
Shaker  belief  was  explained.  The  Harmonists  were  urged  to 
pay  a  visit  to  New  Lebanon,  and  overtures  for  the  union  for  the 
two  bodies  were  made.     But  these  overtures  were  declined,  and 


*  Die  Siegesgeschichte  der  christlichen  Religion,  von  Jung-Stilling. 
Niirnberg,  1799,  page  410:  „Von  nun  (1798)  an  iiber  38  Jahre  wird  hochst 
vermutlich  der  Herr  erscheinen  — wie?  und  auf  welche  Art?  —  das  wol- 
len  wir  in  Geduld  abwarten,  und  dann  wird  sein  herrliches  Reich  auf 
Erden  anfangen;  es  kann  aber  auch  noch  eher  geschehen,  schwerlich 
spater.") 


The  Harmony  Society.  u; 

Mr.  Henrici  vigorously  denounced  some  of  the  religious  teach- 
ings of  the  Shakers,  .especially  the  revelations  of  their  prophetess, 
Mother  Ann.  which  he  held  to  have  been  suggested  by  the 
tempter. 

About  the  same  time  they  corresponded  with  the  community 
at  Zoar,  O.,  formed  on  much  the  same  principles  as  their  own,  by 
Wiirtembergers  also.  But  they  believed  that  some  of  the  Zoar- 
ite  doctrines  were  not  in  accord  with  the  Bible,  and  for  that  rea- 
son union  was  impossible.  Such  is  the  decision  of  Mr.  Baker  in 
the  following  letter : 

..Economy,  den  7.  Dezember  1859. 
Jacob  Silvan. 
Zoar. 
Werther  Freund : 

Du  verrathest  zti  viel  Eigenliebe  und  Schwache  durch  be- 
meldete  Krankung,denn  es  ist  nicht  Siinde,  sondern  Pflicht,  einem 
Freunde  einen  Wink  von  einem  Irrthum  zu  geben,  wo  solcher 
gegen  das  YVort  Gottes  geht.  YYir  finden  in  eurem  Predfgt- 
Buch  manche  Punkte,  die  nach  unserm  YVortverstand  mit  der 
Bibel  nicht  ubereinstimmen.  Es  ist  aber  nicht  unsere  Sache  in 
einen  Religions-Streit  uns  einzulassen.  Diese  zwei  Gesell- 
schaften  sind  zweierlei  Blumen  und  werden  es  auch  fiir  diese 
Zeit  bleiben.  Ein  Jeder  sei  seiner  Meinung  gewiss,  und  seiner 
Ueberzeugung  getreu. 

Xatiirlich  kann  eine  Freundschaft  auf  solchem  Grunde  nicht 
sehr  tief  sein,  wo  man  sich  huten  muss,  dass  die  Eigenliehe  nicht 
angegriffen  wird.     Doch  genug  davon. 

R.  L.  BAKER. " 

When  George  Rapp  died  in  1847,  tne  direction  of  the  Society 
was  entrusted  to  two  trustees,  Romelius  L.  Baker  and  Jacob 
Henrici.  The  elder  of  these,  whose  name  originally  was  Gott- 
lieb Romelius  Langenbacher,  was  born  November  1,  1793.  He 
had  been  in  the  Society  from  its  foundation.  His  elder  brother, 
John  L.  Baker,  who  died  June  6,  1825,  had,  in  the  absence  of 
Frederick  Rapp,  looked  after  the  business  interests  of  the 
ciety.  Romelius,  too,  early  assisted  in  the  management  of  the 
affairs,  and  on  Frederick  Rapp's  death,  in  1834,  he  and  Mr. 
Henrici  were  appointed  business  agents  of  the  Society.     When 


128  The  Harmony  Society. 

Father  Rapp  died,  Mr.  Baker,  as  senior  trustee,  suceeded  him 
as  spiritual  leader  and  continued  to  preach  the  doctrines  so 
long  taught  by  the  venerable  founder.  The  management  of 
business  matters  was  also  principally  in  his  hands.  In  these 
he  was  most  careful.  His  accounts  and  memoranda  are  most 
systematic.  He  knew  at  any  time  almost  the  exact  condition  of 
the  Society's  property.  His  influence  was  not  limited  to  the  So- 
ciety, but  his  advice  and  co-operation  were  sought  by  his  neigh- 
bors, in  matters  of  common  interest. 

He,  too,  was  a  man  of  culture.  He,  like  his  brother,  culti- 
vated English  more  than  most  of  the  older  members,  and  kept 
most  of  his  accounts  in  that  language.  He  trained  himself  care- 
fully in  the  use  of  German  also.  In  the  library,  at  Economy,  is 
a  manuscript  book  of  over  ioo  closely  and  neatly  written  pages, 
with  the  title:  Zweite  Deutsche  Abschrift  der  Geschichte  Jo- 
sephs, des  Sohnes  Israels,  mit  einigen  Reimen,  welche  in  der 
ersten  Copia  wegen  des  schwierigen  Uebersetzens  unterlassen, 
hier  aber  beigeftigt  sind.  Harmonie,  May  17,  1820,  Romelius  L. 
Baker. 

When  in  1855  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania  was 
founded,  Mr.  Baker  became  a  member,  and  contributed  $20  to  the 
publication  fund.  A  tribute  to  his  personal  character,  as  well 
as  a  typical  instance  of  the  kindness  of  the  Society  to  its  outside 
friends,  is  contained  in  the  following  letter  from  the  son  of  its 
former  agent,  at  Vincennes,  John  D.  Hay. 

"Vincennes,  April  22,  1863. 
Mr.  R.  L.  Baker, 
Dear  Sir: 

I  have  always  had  feelings  of  kindness  and  gratitude  to 
your  Society,  as  the  friends  of  my  father  and  mother,  giving 
them  business  and  support  for  years.  Toward  yourself  in  par- 
ticular, I  have  always  had  not  only  profound  esteem,  but  affec- 
tion. How  could  it  be  otherwise?  Your  intimate  friendship  to 
my  parents,  your  frequent  visits  to  our  home,  your  peculiar  ten- 
derness to  us  children,  your  amusing  anecdotes,  pleasant  songs 
and  good  instruction  and  advice,  made  indelible  impressions 
upon  me. — I  have  stayed  away  purposely  (from  Economy)  lest 
you  should  misjudge  my  motives  in  coming.     You  frequently 


The  Harmony  Society.  \2<) 

gave  me  tokens  of  friendship  in  my  youth,  and  your  Society  pave 
my  sister  and  myself  a  lot.  When  I  visited  you,  you  and  Mr. 
Rapp,  and  others  perhaps,  gave  me  sundry  little  tokens,  and 
would  not  let  me  pay  my  tavern  bill.  I  believe  I  never  asked 
you  for  a  gift. — If  I  ever  call,  let  me  pay  my  tavern  bill  and  give 
me  no  gifts. 

Yours  truly, 

GEORGE  D.  HAY." 

Mr.  Baker's  kind  treatment  of  the  sick  Moravian  missionary 
has  been  narrated  elsewhere. 

He  was  a  sincerely  pious  man.  Occasionally  in  his  account 
books  a  verse  of  scripture  is  written  in  his  clear,  bold  hand.  His 
business  letters  to  Mr.  Henrici  frequently  end  with  something  of 
spiritual  interest ;  an  allusion  to  his  sermon  of  the  previous  Sab- 
bath, or  a  religious  admonition,  as  in  the  following  conclusion  of 
a  business  letter: 

„Economy,  21.  Mai  1859. 
Jacob : 

—  Du  bist  jetzt  vieler  Zerstreuung  unterworfen,  mehr  als 
uns  lieb  ist,  allein  bei  dem  aussern  Naturlicht,  ist  auch  das  innere, 
um  eine  Geburth  tiefer  zu  finden,  welches  das  geistliche  Leben 
nahrt,  und  das  Opferfeuer  unterhalt. 

Der  gemeinschaftliche  Geist  sei  dein  Fiihrer,  dann  wird  alles 
gut  sein  bis  unser  Wiedersehen. 

Viele  herzliche  Griisse, 

R.  L.  BAKER." 

Religious  matters  were  his  chief  concern.  The  welfare  of 
the  Society  in  which  he  had  lived  from  his  boyhood,  was  his  last 
thought  when  he  felt  death  approaching.  A  short  time  before 
his  death  he  requested  that  the  following  points  should  be  added 
to  the  farewell  address  of  Father  Rapp : 

ist.  An   exhortation   to   holy   living. 

2d.  To  Christian  union  and  Harmony. 

Mr.  Baker's  death  was  announced  in  the  following  circular, 
in  German  and  English : 


130  The  Harmony  Society. 

„Entschlafen  im  Hcrrn! 

Am  Morgan  des  11.  Januar  1868,  starb  in  seinem  75.  Lebens- 
jahre,  Bruder  Romelius  L.  Baker,  im  vollen  Vertrauen  auf  das 
allgenugsame  Verdienst  seines  theuren  Heilandes  Jesu  Christi, 
welchem  er  von  frtiher  Jugend  auf  mit  voller  und  unverrtickter 
Liebe  von  ganzem  Herzen  anhing  und  dem  er  in  der  Person 
seiner  Bruder,  seit  Grtindung  der  Harmonie-Gesellschaft  in  1805 
mit  unbefleckter  Treue  bis  in  den  Tod  eifrig  diente.     Seit  dem 
Hinscheiden  Georg  Rapp's,  des  vielgeliebten  Grtinders  der  Har- 
monie-Gesellschaft, war  er  vorsitzender  Aelteste,  Haupt-Trus- 
tee  und  religioser  Leiter  und  Wortfuhrer     der     Gemeine.     Ihm 
folgt  jetzt  der  seit  1832  in  ahnlichen  Aemtern  ihm  beigeftigte,  und 
unter  seiner  Leitung  die  Geschafte  der  Gesellschaft  erLernende 
zehn  Jahr  jiingere  Bruder  Jacob  Henrici.     Als  dessen  Mit-Trus- 
tee  wurde  heute  erwahlt,  der  in  der  Gesellschaft  1807  geborne, 
von  ihr  erzogene,  ihr  stets  mit  voller  Treue  dienende  und  seit 
1847  a^s  Rathsglied  erprobte  Bruder,  Johnathan  Lenz. 

Die  allgemeinen  Geschafte  der  Harmonie-Gesellschaft  wer- 
den  daher  von  heute  an  im  Namen  von  Henrici  und  Lenz,  Trus- 
tees, gethan,  und  alle  Kaufbriefe  (Deeds)  und  ahnliche  Docu- 
mente  von  Jacob  Henrici  und  Jonathan  Lenz,  Trustees,  ausge- 
fertigt  und  unterzeichnet  werden,  zufolge  der  bestehenden  in 
Beaver  County  Court  eingetragenen  V^ereinigungs-Artikel  be- 
sagter  Gesellschaft. 
Economy,  Januar  13,  1868. 

JACOB  HENRICI, 
JOHNATHAN  LENZ, 

Trustees." 

Some  time  later,  Mr.  Henrici,  writing  to  Louise  Weil,  paid  his 
tribute  to  his  departed  friend  of  a  life  time : 

„Es  ist  nicht  unsere  Weise,  wie  du  wohl  weisst,  einander 
Lobreden  zu  halten,  doch  zur  Bestatigung  und  Rechtfertigung 
dessen  was  du  und  der  liebe  Vater  zum  Lobe  des  scheiden- 
den  Freundes  uns  zum  siissen  Troste,  mit  so  viel  Herzensbered- 
samkeit  zu  sagen  hattest,  will  auch  ich  meine  auf  vieljahrige 
Erfahrung  gegriindete  Ansicht  iiber  diesen  Gegenstand  euch 
aufrichtig  mittheilen. 


The    Harmony     Society.  131 

,,Ich  weiss,  class  du  es  mir  nicht  iibel  deutest,  wenn  ich 
in  dem,  was  ich  zu  sagen  habe,  blosslasse,  dass  ich  eine  sehr  hohc 
Ansicht  von  dem  Werthe  und  der  endlichen  Bestimmung  unsrer 
harmonischen  Gemeine  habe,  die,  obgleich  jetzt  in  verborgener 
Gestalt  und  mit  manchen  menschlichen  Unvollkommenheitien  be- 
lastet,  dennoch  flir  einen  grossen  geheimen  Zweck  unmittelbar 
vom  Herrn  gegriindet  und  bis  auf  den  heutigen  Tag  gnadig  und 
wunderbar  beschiitzt  und  geleitet  wurde.  Ich  sage  dieses,  dass 
ihr  nicht  zu  fiirchten  habt,  dass  ihr  euch  in  dem  Werthe  unseres 
Freundes  iiberschatzt  habt,  der  zwar  durchaus  nichts  vom  eige- 
nen  Werth  und  Verdienst,  sondern  alles  Gliick  und  Heil  einzig 
und  allein  von  der  Gerechtigkeit  und  dem  Verdienste  seines  theu- 
ren  Heilands  erwartete,  der  uns  hoch  geliebt  hat,  dem  er  aber 
nach  seiner  gnadigen  Berufung  und  Erwahlung  zur  billigen  Ge- 
genliebe  in  reinem  Gevvissen  von  Jugend  auf,  ja,  wie  Paulus,  von 
seinen  Voreltern  her,  gedient,  der  nun  schon  liber  ein  halbes 
Jahrhundert  als  ein  talentvoller,  gebildeter  und  wohl  geiibter  Ge- 
schaftsmann  fast  alle  bedeutende  Geschafte  der  Gesellschaft  mit 
der  Aussen-Welt  leiten  half  oder  selbst  besorgte,  ohne  sich  auch 
nur  die  geringste  Untreue  zu  Schulden  kommen  zu  lassen ;  und 
dessen  moralisches  und  religioses  Beispiel  von  Jugend  auf  von 
grossem  und  gutem  Einfluss  war,  und  der  seit  dem  Tode  des 
Griinders  der  Gemeine  auch  im  Religiosen  die  Oberleitung  der 
Gemeine  mit  aller  Sorgfalt  und  Treue  aufs  eifrifste  verwaltete. 
Kein  jetzt  Lebender  kann  dies  mit  grosserer  Gewissenheit  be- 
zeugen  und  behaupten  als  ich,  der  ich  schon  liber  vierzig  Jahre 
bestandigen  Umgang  mit  ihm  gepflegt,  schon  iiber  34  Jahre  un- 
unterbrochene  Geschafte  unter  und  mit  ihm  fur  die  Gesellschaft 
gethan,  von  dem  Tode  Frederick  Rapp's  in  1834  bis  heute  in 
gleichem  Amte  mit  ihm  gestanden,  wo  er  durch  ein  um  10  Jahre 
hoheres  Alter,  durch  reifere  Erfahrung  und  vorzuglichere  natiir- 
liche  Fahigkeit  mir,  so  zu  sagen,  immer  als  Lehrer  und  Muster 
diente." 


132  The  Harmony  Society. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


Economy,  Pennsylvania,   1868- 1904. 

The  year  1868,  in  which  Mr.  Baker  died,  marks  an  epoch  in 
the  development  of  the  Society.  Up  to  that  time  their  industries 
had  been  carried  on  for  the  most  part  at  Economy,  by  them- 
selves, with  the  assitance  of  hired  labor.  But  the  members  of 
the  Society  grew  fewer  and  fewer  in  number,  and  could  no  longer 
profitably  carry  on  their  home  industries.  The  manufacture  of 
silk  ceased  soon  after  1852;  the  cotton  factory  had  closed  in  1858, 
and  after  that  date  only  a  small  quantity  of  woolen  goods  was 
manufactured.  In  1862  a  United  States  revenue  tax  was  placed 
on  whiskey.  From  that  date  the  production  of  this  profitable 
article  rapidly  diminished  and  soon  ceased  entirely.  Wine  was 
still  made  on  a  small  scale  until  1890. 

At  the  very  time  that  a  large  capital  was  released  by  the 
cessation  of  these  home  manufactures,  it  was  increased  greatly 
from  an  unexpected  source.  Shortly  before  i860,  the  Society  had 
come  into  possession  of  6,000  acres  of  timber  land  in  Warren 
County,  Pa.,  near  Tidioute,  by  purchasing  at  Sheriff's  sale  the 
property  of  a  man  to  whom  they  had  loaned  money.  Oil  was 
discovered  in  i860  in  that  vicinity.  In  1861  the  Society  drilled 
several  wells  on  their  property,  and  found  a  rich  supply  of  oil. 
This  oil  they  refined  with  such  care  that  for  a  time  the  best  oil 
in  the  market  was  Economy  oil.  Mr.  Lenz,  the  junior  trustee, 
took  personal  charge  of  the  oil  industry.  It  was  carried  on  by 
the  Society  from  1861  until  1892,  part  of  the  time  on  a  large 
scale  and  with  great  profit. 

Before  the  discovery  of  oil  on  the  Warren  County  pro- 
perty, they  had  been  exploiting  the  timber  on  it.  In  1858,  and 
succeeding  years,  they  had  a  large  saw  mill  in  operation  there. 
The  timber  was  taken  down  the  Allegheny  and  Ohio  rivers,  and 


View   of  Part   of  Economy   from   the   rhun-h   Tower. 


Typical    House   al    Economy 


The  Harmony  Society.  133 

disposed  of  at  various  points   in   these   valleys.     This   industry 
continued  until  the  supply  of  timber  was  exhausted 

Since  1855  the  Society  had  been  engaged  in  the  coal  business 
at  Cannellton  and  Darlington,  Beaver  County,  Pa.  In  1859  they 
purchased  property  there,  owning  as  much  as  944  acres.  They 
shipped  their  coal  mostly  west.  Some  went  to  Cleveland,  some 
to  New  York.  This  business  continued  until  1880.  They  sold 
out  their  interests  there  in  1882  or  1883.  In  connection  with  the 
coal  works,  at  Darlington,  they  had  a  saw  mill  and  car  works, 
where  they  made  cars  for  the  transportation  of  their  coal.  As 
far  back  as  1852  they  had  come  into  possession  of  coal  lands  in 
Jefferson  County,  O.,  by  mortgage  foreclosure.  At  Cannellton 
they  had  manufactured  coal  oil  from  shale.  This  was  unprofit- 
able after  the  discovery  of  petroleum,  and  was  abandoned  in 
1861. 

The  Society  was  the  chief  factor  in  a  number  of  railroad  en- 
terprises. In  1857  they  had  a  large  amount  of  stock  in  the  Little 
Saw  Mill  Run  R.  R.,  in  Allegheny  County,  Pa.,  and  took  an  ac- 
tive part  in  the  management  of  this  road.  They  sold  their  in- 
terest in  it  in  1895.  They  were  the  chief  agents  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  Pittsburg,  Chartiers  and  Youghiogheny  R.  R.  They 
owned  a  controlling  interest  in  this  road,  to  the  amount  of 
$390,000,  which  they  sold  in  1891  or  1892. 

Their  most  important  railroad  enterprise  was  the  building 
of  the  Pittsburg  &  Lake  Erie  R.  R.,  from  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  to 
Youngstown,  Ohio.  They  became  interested  in  the  construction 
of  this  road  in  1877,  and  invested  $650,000  in  it.  Mr.  Henrici 
was  President  of  the  road  from  January  12,  1881,  to  January  14, 
1884.  At  this  date  the  road  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Van- 
derbilts,  to  whom  the  Harmony  Society  sold  its  interests  for 
$1,150,000. 

In  1859  the  Society  became  the  owners  of  500  or  more  acres 
of  land  on  the  Beaver  river,  30  miles  from  Pittsburg.  They  pur- 
chased the  Fulton  farm  of  200  acres  adjoining  their  land,  and 
somewhat  later  the  Braden  farm,  of  about  200  acres.  This  land 
constitutes  the  present  site  of  Beaver  Falls.  It  was  the  same 
the  Rapps  had  urged  the  Duke  of  Saxe-Weimar  to  buy  33  years 
before.     In  1859  not  more  than  40  or  50  persons  lived  on  this 


134  The  Harmony  Society. 

tract.  Now  Beaver  Falls  has  a  population  of  about  11,000.  The 
Harmonists  saw  the  advantages  of  this  location  as  a  site  for  a 
manufacturing  town.  They  determined  to  induce  factories  to 
build  there.  In  1865  their  property  was  divided  into  lots,  the 
first  of  which  was  sold  January  1,  1866.  The  sales  were  con- 
tinued until  quite  recently,  when  all  their  Beaver  Falls  property 
was  disposed  of.  Between  1865  and  1896  they  realized  from  these 
sales,  $1,110,648.78. 

They  succeeded  in  having  a  number  of  factories  located  in 
the  new  town.  In  1867  they  acquired  an  interest  in  a  cutlery 
works,  then  operating  at  Rochester,  Pa.  In  1868  these  works 
were  located  at  Beaver  Falls,  and  operated  by  the  Beaver  Falls 
Cutlery  Co.,  in  which  the  Society  had  a  large  share.  In  1872 
they  became  sole  owners.  As  many  as  300  men  were  employed 
in  the  factory.  They  operated  the  works  until  1887  at  a  great 
loss.  When  remonstrated  with,  the  manager,  Mr.  Henrici,  said 
"They  must  run  ;  these  men  must  be  employed ;  we  have  sold  them 
lots  and  built  them  houses,  and  we  have  got  to  keep  these  facto- 
ries running  to  keep  these  men  employed."  This  property  was 
sold  in  1895. 

In  1875  they  acquired  an  interest  in  the  Western  File  Works, 
at  Beaver  Falls,  a  very  large  factory.  They  bought  this  plant 
entirely  in  1884,  and  operated  it,  also  at  a  great  loss,  until  1892. 
This,  as  in  fact  all  their  property  at  Beaver  Falls,  has  since  been 
sold. 

In  1875  they  acquired  an  interest  in  the  shovel  factory  of 
H.  M.  Meyers  &  Co.,  which  interest  they  disposed  of  in  1889. 
They  were  for  a  time  owners  of  a  large  axe  factory  at  Beaver 
Falls,  which  they  also  sold.  In  1877  they  became  owners  of  the 
Beaver  Falls  Steel  Works,  which  they  operated  until  1893,  when 
they  sold  them.  They  owned  and  operated  for  a  time  a  pottery  in 
Beaver  Falls. 

In  1879  tney  organized  the  Beaver  Falls  Car  Works,  taking 
$47,000  stock  out  of  a  total  investment  of  $50,000.  These  works 
were  operated  until  1886,  when  they  were  burnt  down. 

They  also  had  for  a  time  large  interests  in  the  Valley  Glass 
Works,  the  Beaver  Falls  Coal  Works,  the  Union  Drawn  Steel 
Works,  and  the  Eclipse  Bicycle  Co.,  all  at  Beaver  Falls. 


The  Harmony  Society.  135 

It  had  not  been  their  original  intention  to  engage  in  these 
manufactures.  Their  purpose  had  been  to  dispose  of  their  land 
to  good  advantage.  To  induce  these  various  establishments  to 
locate  on  their  land,  they  had  taken  stock  in  them  or  loaned 
money  to  their  owners.  Later  they  found  it  necessary,  in  order 
to  secure  these  loans  and  investments,  to  purchase  the  plants 
outright. 

A  part  of  the  scheme  for  the  development  of  Beaver  Falls 
had  been  a  bank.  Accordingly,  on  March  2,  1868,  the  Society 
organized  the  Economy  Savings  Institution.  This  bank  enjoyed 
great  confidence,  as  the  credit  of  the  Society  was  the  best.  It 
had  at  one  time  over  3,000  depositors,  and  more  than  $1,000,000 
deposits.  As  a  banking  institution,  it  was  successful.  But  the 
File  Works  and  Cutlery  Works  were  being  operated  at  a  loss. 
In  order  to  keep  these  factories  running,  the  bank's  money  was 
loaned  to  them.  In  1892  they  were  more  than  $900,000  in  debt 
to  the  bank.  These  and  other  financial  difficulties  of  the  Society 
led  to  the  closing  of  the  bank  in  1893,  after  all  its  obligations  had 
been  met  in  full. 

In  addition  to  these  industries,  the  Society  became  interested 
in  1880,  in  the  Chartiers  Block  Coal  Co.  In  1887  they  began  to 
make  bricks  in  Leet  Township.  From  1887  to  1889  they  operated 
a  glass  factory,  which  they  had  bought  at  Sheriffs  sale,  in  order 
to  secure  money  loaned.  These  industries  away  from  Economy 
were  operated  by  workingmen  and  Superintendents  who  were 
not  members  of  the  Society,  under  the  general  direction  of  the 
two  trustees.  Mr.  Lenz,  the  junior  trustee,  gave  most  of  his  at- 
tention to  the  lumber  and  oil  industries,  while  Mr.  Henrici 
directed  the  enterprises  at  Beaver  Falls.  At  the  same  time  at 
Economy,  agriculture  was  still  carried  on,  together  with  the 
local  industries  necessary  for  the  life  of  the  town. 

In  1895  the  Society  still  operated  a  flour  mill,  a  cooper  shop, 
a  machine  shop,  a  plumbing  shop,  a  carpenter  shop,  a  cabinet 
shop,  a  butcher  shop,  a  laundry,  a  bakery,  a  dairy,  orchards  and 
farming,  employing  79  men,  including  one  policeman,  two  teach- 
ers and  one  clerk.  In  that  year  they  had  400  acres  under  culti- 
vation, raising  corn,  wheat,  oats  and  potatoes;  200  acres  in  hay 
and  pasture;  80  cows,  35  heifers,  21  horses  and  60  to  70  pigs. 


136  The  Harmony  Society. 

During'  Mr.  Baker's  life-time  he  had  kept  careful  accounts 
of  the  Society's  business.  It  was  unfortunate  that,  after  his 
death,  just  when  the  industries  of  the  Society  were  becoming  so 
large  and  various,  systematic  accounting  was  abandoned.  Mr. 
Henrici  kept  no  accounts.  He  merely  made  very  unsystematic 
memoranda  of  transactions,  and  relied  a  great  deal  on  his  mem- 
ory. No  person  else  could  know,  and  probably  Mr.  Henrici  him- 
self did  not  fully  realize,  what  the  financial  condition  of  the 
Society  was.  When  Mr.  John  S.  Duss  became  junior  trustee,  in 
1890,  he  soon  learned  that  the  finances  were  in  bad  shape,  just 
how  bad  he  could  not  determine.  After  overcoming  to  some 
extent  Mr.  Henrici's  aversion  to  accounts,  he  secured  the  ser- 
vices of  an  expert  accountant,  who,  after  much  work,  found  out 
what  the  financial  condition  of  the  Society  was  on  April  1,  1891. 
At  that  date  its  liabilities  were  $1,474,958.58,  with  assets,  not  in- 
cluding the  property  at  Economy  and  in  Leet  Township,  of 
$1,707,952.31.  It  was  solvent,  but  many  of  its  liabilities  had  to 
be  met  at  once,  while  few  of  its  assets  were  immediately  avail- 
able. If  their  creditors  had  pressed  for  immediate  payment,  they 
would  have  had  to  dispose  of  their  assets  at  a  sacrifice,  and  would 
have  been  absolutely  bankrupt. 

By  skillful  financiering,  in  great  part  during  a  financial 
panic,  rendered  all  the  more  difficult  by  internal  dissensions  and 
litigation,  brought  by  descendants  of  former  members,  Mr.  Duss 
succeeded  in  meeting  all  obligations  and  putting  the  Society  on 
a  firm  financial  basis.  The  entire  debt,  January  1,  1896,  was 
$359,812.00,  and  the  assets,  not  including  real  estate  at  Economy 
and  in  Michigan,  were  $570,397.00.  The  Economy  property  was 
assessed  at  $500,000.* 

The  most  valuable  asset  of  the  Society  was  the  estate  at 
Economy,  and  this  Mr.  Duss  preserved  intact.  His  wisdom  in 
so  doing  was  shown  by  the  favorable  terms  on  which  this  pro- 
perty was  disposed  of  a  few  years  later.  In  1902  a  considerable 
tract,  on  which  the  town  of  Ambridge  is  now  situated,  was  sold. 

♦This  information,  in  regard  to  the  industries  of  the  Society,  and  its 
financial  condition,  has  been  obtained  from  the  printed  testimony  in  the 
case  of  Christian  Schwartz  et  al.  vs.  John  S.  Duss  et  al.  Bill  filed 
June  27,  1894. 


The  Harmony  Society.  137 

April  29,  1903,  almost  the  whole  Economy  estate  was  sold  to  the 
Liberty  Land  Company.  The  Society  retained  only  three  blocks 
of  2.75  acres  each,  on  which  are  situated  the  Music  Hall,  the 
Great  House  and  garden,  and  several  dwellings,  together  with 
the  right  to  use  the  church  for  five  years,  which  right  could  be 
extended  five  years  longer  if  desired.  The  extent  of  the  land 
sold  to  the  Liberty  Land  Company  was  2,523  acres,  and  the 
amount  paid  for  it  was  $2,500,000.00. 

Jacob  Henrici,  who  had  been  junior  trustee  since  the  death 
of  George  Rapp,  succeeded  R.  L.  Baker  as  senior  trustee  and 
spiritual  leader  of  the  Society.  Mr.  Henrici  was  born  January 
15,  1804,  of  Protestant  parents,  at  Grosskarlbach,  in  Rhenish 
Bavaria.  After  attending  the  eLementary  schools,  he  took  a  two 
years'  course  in  the  Lehrerseminar  at  Kaiserslautern,  finishing 
the  course  in  1822.  He  obtained  a  certificate  of  highest  credit, 
being  commended  as  especially  competent  to  teach,  very  good 
in  singing  and  well  qualified  in  the  playing  of  the  organ.  His 
exemption  from  military  service  of  about  the  same  date,  describes 
him  as  five  feet,  eleven  inches  tall,  blonde  hair,  high  forehead, 
brown  eyebrows,  brown  eyes,  medium  sized  nose  and  mouth, 
blonde  beard,  pointed  chin,  normal  complexion  and  strongly 
built.  November  1,  1822  he  was  appointed  assistant  in  the  ele- 
mentary Protestant  School  for  Boys,  in  Speier,  with  a  yearly  sal- 
ary of  200  Gulden  and  free  dwelling.  He  taught  there  for  two 
years.  On  leaving  this  school,  the  23d  of  September,  1824,  to 
come  to  America,  with  his  parents,  the  principal  of  the  school, 
Herr  Jaeger,  certified  in  the  highest  terms  to  his  efficiency  and 
character: 

,,Er  hat  sich  jederzeit  als  einen  jungen  Mann  von  vorziig- 
lichen  Anlagen,  ausgezeichnetem  Fleisse  und  einem  musterhaften 
Betragen  erwiesen.  Mit  einer  seltenen  Gabe  von  Lehrfahigkeit 
verband  er  zugleich  ein  reines,  stilles  und  fur  jedes  Edle  und 
Schone  empfangliches  Gemuth,  wodurch  er  sich  seinen  Zoglingen 
nicht  nur  theuer  und  werth  gemacht,  sondern  sich  auch  die  Hoch- 
achtung  und  innere  Zuneigung  und  Theilnahme  seiner  Mitlehrer, 
seiner  Vorgesetzten  und  der  sammtlichen  Orts-  und  Landes- 
obrigkeiten  erworben  hat.  Da  er  seinen  Eltern  nach  Amerika 
zu  folgen  sich  entschlossen  hat,  so  trostet  uns  liber     einen     so 


138  The  Harmony  Society. 

grossen  Verlust,  den  dadurch  unsere  Elementarschule  erleidet, 
die  einzige  Hoffnung  und  Zuversicht,  dass  der  ewige  Lenker  der 
menschlichen  Schicksale  dieses  Opfer  der  kindlichen  Treue  seg- 
nen,  und  der  wackere  junge  Mann  jenseits  des  Meeres  ein  neues 
Vaterland  und  Menschen  finden  werde,  welche  ihn  mit  der  nam- 
lichen  Liebe  aufnehmen  mit  welcher  wir  ihn  aus  unserer  Mitfce 
entlassen. 

Der  koniglich-baierische  Studiendirektor, 

JAEGER." 

The  director  of  the  normal  school,  Mr.  Balbier,  gave  him  a 
certificate  in  similar  high  terms,  speaking  of  "his  childlike,  pure, 
and  pious  disposition,  his  talent  and  his  ability  to  impart  instruc- 
tion/' On  the  same  date  his  fellow  teachers  united  in  a  warm 
testimonial  of  regard  for  him : 
„LLeber  Henrici : 

Mit  dem  innigsten  Gefuhle  unsers  Herzens  ergreifen  wir  im 
Augenblicke  unsers  Scheidens  die  Feder,  dir,  du  theurer  unseres 
Herzens,  das  letzte  Lebewohl  zuzuschreiben.  Mit  welcher  Theil- 
nahme,  mit  welcher  Treue,  sind  unsere  Herzen  gegen  dich  ange- 
fiillt!  Der  Augenblick,  in  welchem  wir  uns  zum  letzten  Mai 
umarmen,  macht  unsere  Herzen  beklommen ;  indem  der  Gedanke 
dich,  du  theurer  Henrici,  den  wir  alle  so  treu  liebten,  nicht  mehr 
zu  sehen,  in  uns  entsteht. 

O  Schicksale  der  Menschen,  wie  trennst  du  hier  so  manches 
Band  der  Freundschaft !  —  doch  wir  wollen  daruber  nicht  kla- 
gen,  denn  Er,  der  unsere  Herzen  in  Liebe  verband,  und  uns  nun 
wieder  scheiden  heisst ;  Er,  der  durch  die  Stimme  deines  Geistes 
zu  dir  sprach  ;  Ziehe, —  Er  wird  auch  jenseits  des  Oceans  mit  und 
bei  dir  sein,  und  dich  und  die  deinigen  gliicklich  an  den  Ort 
deiner  Bestimmung  begLeiten.  — 

So  lebe  wohl,  auf  ewig  wohl !     Und  gedenke  oft  deiner  dich 
herzlich  liebenden  Freunde!     Adieu! 
Neuhofen  bei  Speier, 

den  23.  September  1824." 

Mr.  Henrici  had  heard  of  the  Harmony  Society  in  America. 
In  later  years  he  related  how  he  had  prayed  to  God  to  know 
whether  he  should  come  to  America  to  connect  himself  with  it, 


The  Harmony  Society.  [39 

and  had  obtained  an  affirmative  answer.  After  he  had  made  his 
preparations  for  the  journey,  his  friends  persuaded  him  to  recon- 
sider his  purpose.  He  prayed  again,  and  he  was  convinced  of  his 
duty  a  second  time.  On  his  arrival  in  America,  he  first  provided 
a  home  for  his  aged  parents,  and  visited  Economy,  and  was  so 
impressed  with  the  life  and  spirit  there  that  he  pledged  himself 
to  Father  Rapp  to  join  the  community  and  then  returned  to  pro- 
vide for  his  parents  before  executing  his  long  cherished  purpose. 
He  concluded  his  story  by  saying  that  he  had  never  since  doubted 
that  it  was  possible  to  get  a  definite  answer  to  prayer.*  His 
parents  never  became  reconciled  to  his  joining  the  Society.  At 
his  father's  death  a  few  years  later  he  bequeathed  his  son  $600, 
on  condition  that  he  would  leave  the  Society  within  two  years. 
Mr.  Henrici  joined  the  Society  July  1,  1826.  He  was  the 
school  teacher,  and  we  cannot  doubt  that  he  was  a  most  efficient 
one.  Besides  his  knowledge  of  German,  he  had  an  almost  per- 
fect command  of  the  French  language,  and  he  soon  acquired  the 
mastery  of  the  English,  as  his  letters  show.  Father  Rapp  be- 
came much  attached  to  the  young  teacher,  and  soon  showed  him 
many  marks  of  his  approval.  In  fact  the  favor  which  was  given 
the  young  man,  aroused  the  envy  of  some  of  the  older  members  of 
the  Society.  He  soon  began  to  take  an  active  part  in  the  man- 
agement of  affairs,  and  on  the  death  of  Frederick  Rapp  1834,  he 
and  Mr.  Baker  were  appointed  business  agents  of  the  Society. 
On  the  death  of  George  Rapp  1847,  Mr-  Baker  and  he  became 
the  trustees.  After  Mr.  Baker's  death,  1868,  Mr.  Henrici  became 
senior  trustee,  and  practically  the  absolute  ruler  of  the  Society 
to  almost  the  same  extent  as  its  founder,  George  Rapp,  had  been. 
He  believed  as  firmly  as  Mr.  Rapp  himself  in  the  high  destiny  of 
the  Society,  and  in  the  part  it  was  to  play  in  the  establishment 
of  Christ's  kingdom  upon  earth.  His  ear  was  always  open  to 
appeals  for  aid,  and  he  gave  substantial  assistance  to  many  in- 
stitutions for  charity  and  education,  and  to  many  individuals, 
whom  he  considered  deserving.  His  strong  belief  in  the  second 
coming  of  Christ  led  him  to  contribute  to  movements  which 
claimed  to  prepare  for  that  event.  Cyrus  Teed  applied  to  Mr. 
Henrici  for  aid  in  his  plans,  and  received  some  money.  Mr.  Hen- 
find's  Communities  in  America. 


140  The  Harmony  Society. 

rici  spoke  of  him  in  the  highest  terms,  and  said  that  while  he 
was  mistaken  in  some  of  his  views,  he  believed  him  to  be  an  hon- 
est man.*  His  loan  of  $10,000  to  the  Templeverein  in  Jerusalem, 
in  1890,  when  the  Society  was  financially  embarrassed,  has  been 
already  mentioned.  While  Mr.  Henrici  had  no  doubt  great  busi- 
ness talents,  he  had  also  some  peculiarities  which  rendered  his 
management  of  the  Society's  interest  dangerous.  He  was  ad- 
verse to  keeping  systematic  accounts,  and  he  was  careLess  in 
preserving  the  documents  of  the  Society.  "Such  documents  as 
the  Society  did  possess,  were  not  filed  away  in  any  one  place, 
but  were  poked  away  in  all  kinds  of  places.  Some  in  the  safe 
or  other  places  at  the  store,  some  in  the  vault  at  the  'Big  House/ 
some  in  Mr.  Henrici's  desk,  bureau  drawers,  chests  and  in  fact 
throughout  various  trunks  and  boxes,  from  garret  to  cellar 
throughout  the  house;  some  at  places  in  Pittsburg,  some  at 
Tidioute,  and  at  various  other  places  where  the  Society  owned 
property."** 

Even  while  Mr.  Henrici  was  the  head  of  the  Society  and  di- 
rector of  its  vast  interests,  he  never  forgot  that  he  was  a  school 
teacher,  and  in  his  busiest  years  would  teach  school  in  the  even- 
ings in  the  village.  He  regarded  teaching  as  the  noblest  of  pro- 
fessions, as  he  wrote  to  Louise  Weil : 

„Fast  alles,  was  diese  Welt  hat,  ist  verganglich,  und  daher 
von  geringem  Werthe ;  was  man  aber  zur  Bildung  und  Vered- 
lung  der  Menschheit  beigetragen,  ist  von  ewiger  Dauer  und 
Wichtigkeit.  Eine  solche  Freischule,  wie  du  die  deinige  schil- 
derst,  ist  der  schonste  Wirkungskreis  den  ich  mir  denken  kann, 
und  nirgends  konntest  du  zur  Aufnahme  edlen  Samens  ein  taug- 
licheres  Feld  finden,  als  eben  eine  solche  Anstalt.  Mache  daher 
frohlich  und  getrost  deine  gute  Aussaat,  pflanze,  begiesse  sie 
nach  alien  deinen  Kraften  und  Gott  wird  das  Gedeihen  dazu- 
geben.  Betriibe  dich  nicht,  wenn  du  nicht  nach  deiner  Miihe 
und  deinem  Verdienst  in  dieser  Welt  belohnt  wirst.  Jeder  gute 
Same,  den  du  aus  treuer  uneigennutziger  Liebe  in  jungen  Men- 
schenherzen  streuest,  wird  dir  im  Lande  der  Unverganglichkeit 
eine  erfreuliche  Ernte  bringen." 


♦Testimony  of  Judge  Hice. 
♦♦Testimony  of  John  S.  Duss. 


INTERIOR  OP  WINK  VAUI/T  A.T   RCONOMY 


The  Harmony  Society.  141 

Throughout  his  life  he  preserved  those  characteristics  of 
purity  of  mind  and  uprightness  of  character  and  heart  which 
were  valued  by  his  colleagues  and  superiors  in  Germany.  He 
died  Christmas  Day,  1892. 

Mr.  Henrici's  musical  talent  was  noted  in  his  teacher's  cer- 
tificate. Throughout  his  long  life  he  cultivated  this  talent.  He 
wrote  many  hymns  and  set  them  to  music.  His  composition  of 
the  Ten  Commandments  and  of  the  Apostles'  Creed  has  been 
published.     Music  composed  by  him  is  extant  in  manuscript. 

The  trustee,  who  extricated  the  affairs  of  the  Society  from 
the  confusion  into  which  Mr.  Henrici  had  brought  them,  was 
Mr.  John  S.  Duss.  He  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  February  22, 
i860.  His  father,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Union  Army,  died 
of  a  wound  received  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  the  widow 
went  with  her  infant  son  to  Economy,  where  she  made  her 
home.  From  1873  to  l%7&  ^r-  Duss  attended  the  Soldiers'  Or- 
phans' School,  at  Phillipsburg,  Pa.  He  left  the  school  and  re- 
turned to  Economy,  where  he  entered  the  service  of  the  Har- 
mony Society.  In  1876  he  and  his  mother  went  to  Germany  for 
a  few  months,  but  returned  again  to  Economy.  In  the  fall  of 
1878  he  was  appointed  by  the  Society  as  teacher  of  the  German 
department  of  the  public  school  at  Economy,  and  remained  there 
until  1879,  when  he  left  to  attend  Mt.  Union  College,  in  Ohio. 
In  1882  he  went  to  Kansas  as  a  teacher  in  the  Kansas  State  Re- 
form School,  at  Topeka.  In  the  same  year  he  married  Miss 
Susie  Creese.  In  1883  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Webster 
County,  Neb.,  and  engaged  there  in  the  busipess  of  farming  and 
breeding  of  fine  stock  until  the  year  1888,  when,  at  the  earnest 
solicitation  of  Mr.  Henrici,  he  sold  his  personal  property  and 
returned  to  Economy  to  take  charge  of  the  public  school  con- 
ducted by  the  Harmony  Society.  His  mother,  who  had  been 
continually  at  Economy,  except  for  short  periods,  from  1862  to 
1892,  had  in  the  meantime  joined  the  Society  in  1887.  After  the 
death  of  Miss  Gertrude  Rapp  in  1889,  Mrs.  Duss  was  chosen 
by  the  trustees  as  mistress  of  the  great  house.  Mr.  Henrici 
was  desirous  of  securing  the  services  of  Mr.  Duss  to  the  Society 
permanently,  and  urged  him  to  join,  which  he  did  in  January, 
1890,  and  at  the  same  time  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Elders.     On  the  death  of  Earnest  Woelfel,  the  junior  trustee, 


\4'2  The  Harmony  Society. 

July  26,  1890,  Mr.  Duss  was  elected  junior  trustee  in  the  place 
of  Woelfel,  and  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Henrici,  he  became  senior 
trustee. 

Mr.  Duss  found  the  Society  burdened  with  a  load  of  debt 
tor  which  he  was  not  responsible.  He  devoted  himself  to  the 
task  of  rescuing  the  Society  from  its  perilous  position,  and  he 
succeeded.  He  discharged  all  the  obligations  of  the  Society,  at 
the  same  time  retaining  the  real  estate  at  Economy,  which  was 
increasing  rapidly  in  value.  February  13,  1897,  he  became  sole 
trustee.  May  12,  1903,  he  resigned  and  withdrew  from  the  So- 
ciety. The  same  day  his  wife,  Mrs.  Susie  C.  Duss,  was  elected 
sole  trustee,  and  has  since  managed  the  affairs  of  the  Society. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Duss  sustain  the  traditions  of  high  artistic  and 
intellectual  culture,  which  had  been  maintained  by  the  leaders 
of  the  Society  from  its  foundation.  Mr.  Duss,  like  so  many  of 
his  predecessors,  had  great  musical  talent.  He  found  a  field  for 
this  talent  as  leader  of  the  Economy  Band.  As  a  conductor,  he 
displayed  so  great  ability  that  in  1902  he  organized  a  band,  with 
which  he  played  throughout  the  entire  summer  in  New  York,  and 
gained  the  attention  and  won  the  approval  of  lovers  of  music  in 
the  metropolis.  The  orchestra  directed  by  him  at  Madison 
Square  Garden,  was  the  chief  musical  attraction  in  New  York 
City  during  the  summer  of  1903. 


The  Harmony  Society.  143 


CHAPTER  VII. 

The  Home  of     the     Society. — Publications. — Language. — Bibli- 
ography. 

In  each  of  their  three  American  homes,  the  Harmonists  had 
erected  buildings,  which  will  serve  as  their  monuments  for  an 
indefinite  period.  The  brick  church,  hotel,  wine  vaults  and 
dwellings  at  Harmony,  Butler  County,  Pa.,  were  so  substantially 
built,  that  they  have  suffered  no  decay  in  the  hundred  years  since 
their  erection. 

Their  village  at  Harmony,  Ind.,  was  beautiful  and  substan- 
tial. Robert  Dale  Owen,  the  son  of  the  man  who  bought  their 
Indiana  property,  thus  described  it :  "Their  village  was  pic- 
turesque enough,  literally  embowered  in  trees,  rows  of  black 
locust  marking  the  street  lines.  Several  large  buildings  stood 
out  above  the  foliage,  of  which  a  spacious  cruciform  brick  hall — 
the  transept  130  feet  across — was  the  chief.  The  private  dwell- 
ings were  small,  each  in  a  separate  garden  spot.  Adjoining  the 
village  on  the  south  were  extensive  apple  and  peach  orchards." 

Half  a  century  after  the  Harmonists  had  left  their  home  on 
the  Wabash,  they  purchased  this  cruciform  structure,  which  they 
had  used  as  a  hall  and  assembly  room  in  the  old  days.  They  de- 
molished the  principal  part  of  it,  and  used  th£  brick  for  a  wall 
to  enclose  their  old  burial  ground,  twenty  rods  square.  One 
wing  of  the  cross  was  allowed  to  stand,  and  constitutes  nearly 
one-half  of  the  institute  building,  125x45  feet,  containing  a  large 
public  library,  Masonic  Hall  and  five  large  well  furnished  school 
rooms.  The  village  made  some  contribution,  but  the  present 
really  fine  building  is  due  mainly  to  the  Rappists.  They  intended 
it  as  a  memorial  building,  and  from  its  facade  stand  out  the  words  : 
"In  memory  of  the  Harmony  Society,  founded  by  George  Rapp, 
1805." 


144  The  Harmony  Society. 

One  condition  of  the  donation,  insisted  upon  by  the  Society, 
was  that  the  old  stone  door  which  had  been  designed  and  executed 
by  Frederick  Rapp,  should  take  its  plaoe  unaltered,  in  the  re- 
modeled building.* 

Their  third  town,  Economy,  Pa.,  has  one  of  the  most  beauti- 
ful locations  in  the  Ohio  Valley.  The  village  is  built  on  a  level 
terrace,  overlooking  the  river,  with  an  elevation  of  about  ioo  feet. 
Back  of  the  village  rise  bold  hills  at  a  distance,  forming  a  most 
effective  background.  The  streets,  60  feet  wide,  run  at  right 
angles  and  parallel  with  the  river.  The  sidewalks  are  paved 
with  brick.  The  intersecting  streets  form  squares  of  about  two 
and  one-half  acres  each.  At  the  corners  of  these  and  midway 
on  the  sides,  are  erected  the  dwellings,  in  such  a  manner  that 
each  has  an  ample  garden  adjoining.  The  houses  are  brick  or 
frame  structures.  Most  of  the  houses  are  built  on  the  same 
plan.  They  are  two-story  structures,  with  three  rooms  on  each 
floor.  The  dimensions  of  the  typical  house  are :  Outside,  24  feet 
2  inches  by  32  feet  3  inches ;  on  the  ground  floor  there  is  a  large 
room  19  feet  6  inches  by  22  ft.,  and  two  smaller  ones,  one  10  feet 
6  inches  by  11  feet,  the  other  11  by  11  feet.  All  brick  walls  are 
13  inches  thick.  The  outside  wralls  of  frame  houses  are  filled  in 
with  straw  mortar.  To  most  of  the  houses  annexes  have  been 
built,  which  are  in  most  cases  frame,  even  if  the  house  is  brick. 
To  the  brick  house,  of  which  the  dimensions  have  just  been 
given,  there  is  a  frame  annex  11  ft.  6  inches  by  32  ft.,  divided  into 
two  rooms  on  the  ground  floor,  one  11  by  26  feet,  the  other  5  by 
11  feet.  The  large  rooms  contained  open  fire  places.  The 
houses  are  built  flush  with  the  street.  There  is  only  one  en- 
trance, and  that  is  not  from  the  street,  but  from  the  side  yard. 
At  this  entrance  there  is  a  neat  porch.  The  houses  have  plenty 
of  windows,  which  open  on  all  sides. 

Half  way  up  the  walls  of  the  houses  espaliers  are  attached, 
to  which  grape  vines  are  trained.  There  are  about  115  dwell- 
ing houses  in  the  village.  The  "Great  House,"  the  home  of  the 
senior  trustee,  is  larger  and  more  imposing  than  the  other  dwell- 
ings. Besides  these  dwellings,  there  are  a  number  of  larger 
buildings.     The  church,  the  hotel,  the  grist  mill,  the  woolen  fac- 


♦Hinds,  American  Communities,  p.  81. 


IN  THE  PARK   A.T  ECONOMY. 


I  I  I  1  I  I 

14iiIL 

HmhR 

intlE 

I       1 
s       i 

f  1£"V* 
|j|uiU8 

lllloJM 

■£             1  m4J.~* 

In.  'i.              ft**?   -  "*2,"":isss,f'-?*i 

ROOM  IN  THE  GREAT  HOUSE  AT  ECONOMY 


The  Harmony  Society.  145 

tory,  the  cotton  factory,  are  very  large  and  substantial  struc- 
tures. They  were  the  first  permanent  buildings  erected,  having 
been  built  in  1825. 

In  the  rear  of  the  "Great  House"  is  the  park,  a  very  beauti- 
ful pleasure  ground,  of  about  three  acres,  containing  well  kept 
flower  beds,  a  pond,  a  band  stand,  a  grotto  in  the  form  of  a  Gre- 
cian temple,  which  was  designed  by  Frederick  Rapp,  as  a  memo- 
rial to  George  Rapp.  Opposite  the  "Great  House"  is  the  large 
brick  Assembly  Hall,  beneath  which  are  the  wine  cellars.  On 
the  outskirts  of  the  village  are  large  barns.  Even  in  the  early 
days  the  village  was  well  supplied  with  water,  conducted  from 
a  reservoir  on  the  hill  to  various  points.  Water  is  also  pumped 
by  steam  from  deep  wells.  Some  years  ago  natural  gas  was  dis- 
covered on  their  property,  which  is  used  for  light  and  fuel.  In 
early  days  the  Society  had  erected  a  large  steam  laundry,  for  the 
use  of  the  community,  which  is  still  in  use.  There  is  also  a 
bakery  still  in  operation,  where  the  baking  of  the  community 
was  done.  Even  to-day  Economy  is  a  model  village.  At  the 
time  it  was  built,  it  must  have  been  strikingly  superior  to  the 
average  western  town.  It  is  a  monument  to  the  good  taste  and 
good  judgment  of  its  founders. 

The  Harmonists  led  a  regular  life.  It  was  their  custom  to 
rise  at  six,  to  eat  light  breakfast  between  six  and  seven,  to  have 
a  lunch  at  nine,  dinner  at  twelve  and  afternoon  lunch  at  threve. 
and  supper  between  six  and  seven.  They  went  to  bed  at  nine 
o'clock.  During  their  first  years  in  America,  they  worked  hard 
and  lived  on  plain  and  sometimes  scanty  fare,  but  after  they  had 
become  established,  though  always  industrious,  they  did  not 
work  so  hard  and  lived  better  than  the  neighboring  American 
farmers.  They  were  by  no  means  ascetics.  They  ate  meat  and 
drank  wine  and  beer  if  they  chose.  A  memorandum  of  Mr. 
Baker  gives  the  amount  of  meat  consumed  in  1863.  There  were 
at  that  time  234  persons  in  the  community.  During  that  year 
they  consumed  33  steers,  200  sheep,  33  calves  and  65  hogs ;  an 
average  of  125  pounds  of  beef  and  40  pounds  of  pork  and  bacon 
to  a  person. 

A  weekly  allowance  of  wine,  and  cider  or  beer  was  distrib- 
uted to  the  members ;  but  whiskey  was  not  given  out,  except  in 
cases  of  sickness  or  exposure.     Coffee,  sugar  and  tea  were  dis- 


146  The  Harmony  Society. 

tributed  to  the  members  at  the  Society's  store — a  certain  quantity 
for  each  person — every  two  months;  all  other  groceries  at  such 
times  as  they  were  called  for,  and  in  such  quantities  as  the  mem- 
bers said  they  needed ;  clothing,  hats  and  shoes  in  the  same  man- 
ner, and  from  the  same  place;  flour  and  chicken  feed  they  got 
from  the  grist  mill  as  they  wanted  them;  meat,  viz.,  beef,  veal 
and  pork  twice  a  week  from  the  butcher — who  slaughtered  twice 
a  week,  and  gave  them  about  two  pounds  of  meat  for  each  per- 
son, and  more  if  they  wanted  it;  bread  from  the  bakery,  where 
they  baked  every  day  as  much  as  they  wanted ;  milk  was  deliv- 
ered twice  a  day  at  their  homes,  a  pint  morning  and  evening  for 
each  person ;  wine,  cider  or  beer  from  the  cellar,  a  gallon  a  week 
for  each  person  in  summer,  and  half  that  quantity  in  winter. 

Vegetables  and  chickens  they  raised  for  themselves,  in  the 
yards  and  gardens  attached  to  their  homes.  Carpets  and  furni- 
ure  for  their  houses  were  furnished  them  upon  request  made  at 
the  store  or  general  office.  In  case  of  sickness,  they  were  at- 
tended, in  early  years  by  their  own  physician,  in  later  years  by 
a  physician  employed  by  the  Society.  Domestic  servants  and 
nurses  were  furnished  those  who,  from  age,  weakness  or  sick- 
ness needed  their  assistance.  In  the  distribution  of  these  sup- 
plies, the  families  of  the  members  formed  a  part  of  the  number 
to  be  provided  for,  and  there  was  no  discrimination  between  mem- 
bers and  their  families  as  to  quanity  or  quality ;  they  were  treated 
alike.* 

The  Harmonists  retained  the  Swabian  peasant  style  of  dress 
adapting  it  somewhat  to  American  conditions.  On  the  Wabash 
they  wore  buckskin,  like  other  frontiersmen.  After  their  facto- 
ries were  in  operation,  they  manufactured  all  the  articles  of  wear- 
ing apparel  they  used,  and  their  clothes  were  made  by  their  own 
tailors.  Both  men  and  women  usually  wore  garments  of  a  dark 
blue  color,  made  in  a  simple  fashion.  They  were  well  dressed. 
Their  clothes  were  always  clean  and  never  ragged.  After  they 
had  begun  the  manufacture  of  silk,  the  women  wore  dresses  of 
that  material  on  festive  occasions.  Their  manufacture  of  all 
kinds  of  cloth  ceased  in  the  sixties.  When  the  stock  of  goods 
they  had  on  hand  was  exhausted,  their  number  had  so  decreased 


•Testimony,  Schwartz  vs.  Duss. 


The  Harmony  Society.  i^y 

that  it  was  cheaper  to  buy  their  clothing  than  to  make  it  them- 
selves, and  thus  their  dress  became  the  same  as  that  of  otter 
people. 

In  early  years,  at  Economy,  boarders  were  frequently  admit- 
ted to  the  tavern  during  the  summer.  But  in  1880  and  for  some 
years  previous  to  that,  this  practice  had  been  discontinued,  and 
no  one  was  allowed  to  board  at  the  hotel  except  by  Father  Hen- 
rici's  special  permission,  which  was  rarely  granted.  In  1880 
the  village  of  Economy  still  retained  nearly  all  of  its  character- 
istics. There  was  a  large  force  of  men  at  work  on  the  farm ;  they 
had  not  yet  branched  out  into  the  manufacture  of  lumber  and 
operation  of  the  planing  mill ;  they  had  not  yet  discovered  nat- 
ural gas  or  oil  there,  and  the  village  was  in  its  primitive  state, 
Father  Henrici  still  in  his  vigor,  and  his  influence  prevading  the 
whole  community;  the  hotel  locked  up  at  nine  o'clock  at  night; 
all  went  off  the  street  except  the  watchman  and  his  dog.  Shortly 
after  that,  about  1882,  they  discovered  oil  and  gas ;  that  was  the 
signal  for  an  influx  for  a  large  number  of  men  who  boarded  at 
the  hotel,  who  were  engaged  in  laying  pipes,  drilling,  etc.  After 
nine  o'clock  at  night,  it  was  not  so  quiet  as  it  had  been  before. 
The  young  people  were  more  in  evidence  on  the  street.  These 
men  who  were  employed  were  not  regular  about  going  to  bed  at 
nine  o'clock,  as  had  been  the  rule  before,  so  that  even  before 
Father  Henrici  had  died,  the  extreme  peace  and  quiet  simplicity 
of  the  village  had  disappeared.  The  store  which  had  been  car- 
ried on  by  the  Society  for  years,  was  leased.  The  hotel  was 
leased.  Houses  were  rented  to  outsiders.  Still  the  village  is 
quiet,  decent  and  orderly.**  Last  summer  large  bridge  works 
were  being  erected  on  property  purchased  from  the  Harmony 
Society,  the  hotel  was  crowded  by  men  employed  at  these  works, 
every  house  in  the  village  was  occupied,  and  Economy  had  a 
base  ball  nine. 

The  chief  recreation  of  the  Harmonists  was  music.  Every 
member  of  the  Society  had  some  training,  and  almost  every  one 
could  play  some  musical  instrument.  They  celebrated  Christ- 
mas, Easter  and  Good  Friday,  as  well  as  their  own  Harmonie- 
Fest,  Danksagungstag,  and  Liebesmahl.     At  each  of  these  cele- 


**Testimony  of  J.  T.  Brooks. 


148  The  Harmony  Society. 

brations  music  played  a  prominent  part,  and  elaborate  programs 
were  arranged  for  them.  A  number  of  paintings  are  in  the 
"Great  House,"  the  most  valuable  of  which  is  West's  "Christ 
Healing  the  Sick."  Soon  after  settling  in  Economy,  Frederick 
Rapp  procured,  from  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  at  an  expense 
of  several  thousand  dollars,  an  extensive  museum  of  curiosities, 
consisting  of  rare  minerals,  fine  paintings,  collections  of  birds, 
insects,  shells,  etc.,  besides  Indian  antiquities,  and  other  new 
and  strange  things.  But  the  museum  was  found  to  be  an  un- 
profitable investment,  and  it  was  sold  at  a  sacrifice.  Its  min- 
eralogical  department,  after  remaining  for  a  time  in  the  cus- 
tody of  the  Western  Pennsylvania  Hospital,  was  ultimately 
transferred  to  the  Western  University  of  Pennsylvania,  at  Pitts- 
burg, where  its  remains  may  still  be  seen.* 

The  Harmony  Society  owned  a  large  library.  About  1830 
there  were  in  this  library  360  books,  a  partial  list  of  which  fol- 
lows: 

Geschichte  der  grossen  Teutonen.     Graf  von  Wakerbarth. 
Das   achtzehnte  Jahrhundert.     Stober.     8   Bande. 
Erdbeschreibung  und   Geschichte   von   Amerika.     Ebling. 
Beschreibung  der  Welt.     Walz. 

Reise  durch  einige  der  Vereinigten  Staaten.     Schopf. 
Annalen   der  Geschichte   Frankreichs. 

Deutsche  Geschichte  und  Deutschlands  traurige  Ereignisse. 
Humboldt's  Reise  um  die  Welt.    4  Bande. 
Cook's  Reise  um  die  Welt. 
Texer's  Reise  durch  Spanien  und  Portugal. 
Abriss  der  Geschichte  der  Christlichen  Religion. 
Neueste  Religionsbegebenheiten. 
Reformations-Geschichte.     Roos.     2   Bande. 
Thieme's  Grundlinien  einer  Geschichte  aller  Religionen. 
Evangelischer   Lehrbegriff.     Hartmann. 
Rieger's  Leichter  Weg  zum  Himmel. 
Rieger's  Predigten. 
Biblisches   Erbauungsbuch.     Seiler. 
Der  Prophet  Amos.     Justi. 
Das  Geheimniss  der  Gottseligkeit.     Ganz. 


*  Williams,  The  Harmony  Society,  p.  70. 


The  Harmony  Society.  149 

Bild  Gottes  in  den  ersten  Christen. 
Der  Weg  zu  Christo.    J.  Bohme. 

Ein  hundert  und  sieben  und  siebenzig  Fragen.     J.   Bohme. 
Auflosung  der  obigen. 

Betrachtung  der  drei  Principien  gottlichen  Wesens.     J.  Bohme. 
Von  der  Menschwerdung  Jesu  Christi.     J.  Bohme. 
Erklarung  des  ersten  Buchs  Moses.    J.  Bohme. 
Betrachtung  gottlicher  Offerbarung.    J.  Bohme. 
Vierzig  Fragen  von  der  Seele.  J.  Bohme. 
Von  der  Geburt  und  Bezeichnung  aller  Wesen.    J.  Bohme. 
Die  ganze  Theologie  der  neuen  Kirche.     Swedenborg. 
Rahener's  Satiren. 

Humanitat  und  Menschen.     Jean  Pauls. 
Lavater's  Lebensbeschreibung.     Gessner.. 
Fragmente   liber    Menschenbildung.     E.    M.   Arndt. 
Das  Rauber-Madchen. 

Rinaldo  Rinaldini,  der  Rauber-Hauptmann. 
Shakespeare's  Schauspiele. 

Thudelinde  von  Baiern,  Konigin  der  Langobarden. 
Almansor,  der  Sultan's-Sohn. 
Robinson,  der  Jungere. 
Farbenlehre  von  Gothe. 
Giling's  Handbuch  der  Mineralogie. 
Anfangs-Griinde  der  Metallurgie. 
Rabener's  Briefe,  Leben  und  Schriften. 
Geister-Kunde.     Jung-Stilling. 
Griiner  Mann.     Jung-Stilling. 
Menschenfreund.     Jung-Stilling. 
Kleine  gesammelte  Schriften.     Jung-Stilling. 
Gedichte.    Jung-Stilling. 
Klopstock's  Werke. 
Young's  Nachtgedanken. 
Young's  Sammtliche  Werke. 

Ideen  zur  Philosophic  der  Geschichte  der  Menschheit.     Herder. 
Gessner's  Sammtliche  Schriften. 
Der  Tod  Abels.     Gessner. 
Der  Tod  Adams.     Klopstock. 
Todesgesange.     Schubart. 


150  The  Harmony  Society. 

Schubart's  Gedichte. 

Urania,  Taschenbuch  fur  Damen. 

Elegien  und  vermischte  Gedichte.     Tiedge. 

Poetische  Werke.     Uz. 

Sammlung  prosaischer  Schriftsteller  und   Dichter. 

Klopstock  und  Schiller. 

Gellert's  Moralische  Vorlesungen. 

John  Bunyan. 

Many  of  these  books  are  still  in  the  collection  at  Harmony. 
Since  this  list  was  compiled,  other  books  have  been  added  to 
the  collection,  some  probably  by  purchase,  and  some  were  in 
the  possession  of  individual  members,  at  whose  death  they  were 
placed  with  the  others. 

Among  the  books  in  this  collection,  in  addition  to  those 
just  mentioned,  are: 

Wezel's  Lustspiele.     Carlsruhe,  1789. 

F6nelon's  T^lemaque.    (English.) 

Poppe's   Gewerthslehre.     Wien,    1833. 

Lavater's  Messiade.     4  Bande.     1783. 

Kotzebues  Erinnerungen.     Berlin,  1805.     3  Bande. 

Dasi   merkwiirdigste   Jahr  imeines    Lebens.     Kotzebue,    Berlin, 

1803. 
Herder's  Zur  schonen  Literatur  und  Kunst.     Wien,  1817. 
Carl  von  Carlsberg,  oder  liber  menschliche  Elend.     Chr.  Gottlieb 

Salzmann.     Leipzig,   1785. 
Der  Kuckukstein   oder   die   Ritter   des   Elbhochlandes.     Ewald 

Dietrich.     Meissen,  1825. 
Kakerlak,  oder  Geschichte  eines  Rosenkreuzers.     Leipzig,  1784. 
Paracelsi   Biicher  und    Schriften     durch    Johannem  Huserum 

Brisgoum  in  Druck  gegeben.     Strassburg,  1603. 
Urach,  der  Wilde.     Roman.     Leipzig,  1808.     2  Bande. 
Thornton  Abbey.     Philadelphia,  181 1. 
Gumal  und  Lina,  eine  Geschichte  fur  Kinder.     Kasper  Lossius. 

Gotha,   1816. 
Konrad   und   Siegfried     von     Feuchtwangen.     Frankfurt     und 

Leip^g,    1792. 
Englische    Landwirtschaft.     Albrecht   Thoer.     Hannover,    1806. 


The  Harmony  Society.  151 

Ueber  Newton's  Farben-Theorie,  Herrn    von    Gothe's    Farben- 

lehre  und  den  chemischen   Gegensatz  der  Farben.     Dr.  C. 

H.    Pfaff. 
S.  Th.  Sommering  vom  Baue  des  menschlichen  Korpers.  Frank- 
furt a.  M.,  1791. 
Handbuch     der     menschlichen     Anatomic     Johann     Friedrich 

Mechel.     Halle   und    Berlin,    1815. 
Schmidt's  Jahrbiicher  der  Gesammten  Medicin.     3  Bande.  1868. 
Reine  Arzneimittellehre.     Samuel  Hahnemann.     Dresden,  1825. 

10  Bande. 
Vermischte  Chirurgische  Schriften.     Joh.  L.  Schmucker.   Fran- 

kenthal,   1788. 
Beitrage   zu    einer   praktischen    Fieberlehre.     Chr.    Fr.    Richter. 

Berlin,  1795. 
Raphsodien.     Ludwig  Theobul    Kosegarten.     Leipzig,    1800. 
Handbuch  der  Religion.     Johann  August  Hermes.  Berlin,  1797. 
Der  warnende  und  belehrende  Volksfreund.     Dr.  Johann  Poel- 

mann.     Erlangen,   1825. 
LiturgischesMagazin.   George   Friedrich  Seiler.   Erlangen,   1786. 
Das    Menschenleben.     Julius   Stendro.     Hamburg   und      Mainz, 

1804. 
Der  Philosoph  fur  die  Welt.     J.     J.     Engel.     Berlin,   1801.     2 

Bande. 
Beleuchtung  des  sittlich  Guten  und  Bosen.     Erfurt  und  Gotha, 

1818. 
Die  Veredelung  des  Menschen.     Fr.  Ehrenberg.     Leipzig,  1803. 
Fleming's  Geschichte;  Ein  Denkmal  des  Glaubens  an  Gott  und 

Unsterblichkeit.     Leipzig,    1792. 
Weltalter.     Johann  A.  Bengel.     Esslingen,  1746. 
Anlei.tung  zur  Menschenkenntniss.     De  la  Chambre.  Jena,  1794. 
Grundriss  eines  Systems     der     anthropologischen   Psychologic 

Dr.  Johann  Karl  Wezel.     Leipzig,   1805. 
Magasin  Pittoresque.     1836. 
Chronik   des   neunzehnten    Jahrhunderts.     Dr.    Karl    Venturini. 

Altona,  1812 — 1817.     12  Bande. 
Constants  Curiose  Lebensgeschichte    und    Fatalitaten.       C.    G. 

Salzmann.     Leipzig,   1791. 
Romane  aus  der  Christenwelt  aller  Zeiten.     J.  A.  Kannc  Nurn- 

berg,  1817. 


152  The  Harmony  Society. 

Die  beiden  Freunde.     A.  Lafontaine.     Halle  und  Leipzig,  1819. 
Das  heimliche  Gericht  des  Schicksals,  oder  Rosaura.     A.  Lafon- 
taine.    Halle,  1817. 
Vater  Burgheims  Reisen  mit  seinen  Kindern.     G.  W.  Mundt. 

Halle,  1804. 
Unterredungen  mit  der  Jugend.     Ernst  Chr.  Trapp.     Hamburg 

und  Kiel,  1775. 
Moralische   Erzahlungen.     Sophie      Ludwig.     Ronneburg     und 

Leipzig,  1802. 
Allgemeine    deutsche    Real-Encyklopadie     fur     die     gebildeten 

Stande.     In   fiinfzehn   Banden.     Leipzig,    Brockhaus,    1854. 
Die  Familie  von  Karlsberg,  oder  die  Tugendlehre.     Jacob  Glatz. 

Leipzig  und  Altenberg,  1816. 
Die  Gegenwart;  Eine  encyklopadische  Darstellung  der  neuesten 

Zeitgeschichte.     Leipzig,  Brockhaus,  1848.     7  Bande. 
Volksthtimliches  Worterbuch  der  deutschen  Sprache.     Dr.  Th. 

Heinsius.     Hannover,   1822.    4  Bande. 
Die  zwei  ersten  Schuljahre.     R.  J.  Wurst.     Stuttgart,  1865. 
A  system  of  Chemistry     in     five  volumes.     Thomas  Thomson. 

Edinburgh,   1810. 
Die  Verhaltnisse  der  Zahl  nach  der  Idee     der    pestalozzischen 

Methode.     Hugger  und  Stehle.     Gmiind,   1815. 
System  of  Natural  Philosophy.     J.   L.  Comstock.     New  York, 

1836. 
The  Practical  Engineer.     John  Wallace.     Pittsburg,  1853. 
Elemens  de  Geometric     S.  F.  Lacroix.     Paris,  1808. 
Patterson's  Arithmetic.     Pittsburg,   1818. 
Wiesenbau.     Joh.  Chr.  Bernhard.     Stuttgart,  1788. 
Grundziige  der  Physik  und  Chemie.     K.  W.  G.  Kastner.     Nurn- 

berg,   1832. 
Handbuch  der  praktischen     Technologic     Joh.   Chr.   Gotthard. 

Hamburg  und   Mainz,    1805. 
Kleine  Weltgeschichte  fur  Kinder.     C.  B.  Feyerabend.     Gotha, 

1816. 
Beobachtungen   und   Fantasien  auf  einer  Reise  durch  Sachsen 

und  Brandenburg  im  Herbst  1802.     P.  Scheitlin.     St.  Gal- 

len,  1807. 
Geschichte  des  Abfalls  der  Vereinigten   Niederlande.     Schiller. 

Leipzig,  1788. 


THK    HARMONY     PRINTING    PRESS. 


The  Harmony  Society.  153 

Allgemeine   Weltgeschichte.     Dr.   Carl    V.    Rotteck.     Stuttgart, 

1841. 
Life  and  Essays  of  the  late  Dr.  Benjamin  Franklin.     Written  by 

himself.     Philadelphia,  1812. 
Memoirs  of  the   Private  and   Public   Life     of     William     Penn. 

Thomas  Clarkson.     Philadelphia,    1813.     2   Vols. 
Goldsmith's  History  of  England.     Alexandria,  181 1. 
Fragmente  aus  Paris  im  IVten  Jahre  der  franzosischen  Repu- 

blik.     Dr.  Joh.  L.  Meyer.     Hamburg,   1797.     2  Bande. 
Erdbeschreibung.     Dr.   Anton    Fr.    Biischling.     1787. 
Deutscher  Plutarch.     Chr.  NLemeyer.     Berlin,  181 1. 
Clarke's  Reise  durch  Russland  und  die  Tartarei  in  1800 — 1801. 

Weimar,  1817. 
Geschichte  der  Inquisition  in  Spanien.     Robert     Clemen.     Co- 
lumbus, O.,   1850. 
Stunden   der  Andacht  zur   Beforderung  wahren   Christenthums 

und  hauslicher  Gottesverehrung.     Aarau,   1818.     6  Bande. 
Chorgesangbuch  fiir  Kirchen  und  Schulen.     Herausgegeben  von 

J.  Heinrich  Lutzel.     Kaiserslautern,    1874. 
Haas:  Kirchen-Chore.     Philadelphia. 
Zionsharfe;  Gesangbuch  fiir  die  deutschen  Wesleyanischen  Me- 

thodisten.     Cannstatt,  1878. 

There  are  also  a  large  number  of  Bibles  in  German,  English 
and  French. 

There  are  several  editions  of  the  "Harmonisches  Gesang- 
buch." The  first  edition  has  the  title  ,,Theils  von  andern  Au- 
thoren,  Theils  neu  verfasst."  Zum  Gebrauch  von  Singen  und 
Musik  fiir  Alte  und  Junge.  Nach  Geschmack  und  Umstanden 
zu  wahlen  gewidmet.  Allentown.  Lecha  County,  im  Staat 
Pennsylvanien.     Gedruckt  bei  Heinrich  Ebener,   1820. 

The  second  edition  was  printed  by  themselves  at  Economy, 
in  1827.  A  third  edition  was  printed  in  1889.  Another  book, 
printed  by  themselves,  was  ,,Feurige  Kohlen  der  aufsteigenden 
Liebesflammen  im  Lustspiel  der  Weisheit.  Einer  nachdenken- 
den  Gesellschaft  gewidmet.  Gedruckt  zu  Oekonomie  im  Jahre 
1826."  Another  book  from  their  press  was  ..Gedanken  iiber  die 
Bestimmung  des  Menschen,  besonders  in   Hinsicht  der  gegen- 


154  The  Harmony  Society. 

wartigen  Zeit,  von  der  Harmonie  Gesellschaft  in  Indiana,  1824." 
They  printed  also  an  English  translation  of  this  work. 

The  first  edition  of  the  "Harmonischer  Gesangbuch"  is  a 
volume  of  287  pages.  The  "Register  nach  den  Hauptmaterien 
unter  welche  die  Lieder  verfasst  sind"  contains  the  following 
titles:  Von  den  Werken  der  Schopfung.  Festlieder.  Von  der 
Zukunft  Jesu  zum  Gericht,  Von  der  Menschenwerdung  Christi. 
Vom  Leiden  und  Tod  Christi.  Von  der  Auferstehung.  Vom 
menschlichen  Elend  und  Verderfoen.  Buss-  und  Leichen-Lieder. 
Vom  Glauben.  Vom  GeistfTchen  Kampf  und  Sieg.  Von  der 
Verleugnung  sein  Selbst  und  der  Welt.  Von  dem  Verlangen 
nach  Gott.  Von  der  Llebe  zu  Christo.  Von  der  Bruderliebe. 
Von  der  Nachfolge  Jesu.  Von  der  Uebergab  des  Herzens.  Vom 
Frieden  und  Ruhe  der  Seelen.  Von  der  wahren  Weisheit.  Von 
dem  hohen  Adel  des  Menschen.  Vom  Reich  Gottes.  Von  der 
Hoffnung  Zions.  Vom  Himmel  und  Himmlischen  Jerusalem. 
Von  der  Tugend.  Trostlieder.  Natur  und  Gnade.  Ueber 
Wehmuth.  Von  der  Freundschaft.  Andachslieder.  Schicksal. 
Frtihlingslieder.  Spatjahr  und  Winter.  Von  der  Freiheit.  Von 
den  Klagen  Zions.  The  number  of  songs  in  the  first  edition 
is  371.  The  collection  was  afterwards  increased,  the  third  edi- 
tion containing  518.  One  striking  feature  of  the  song  book  is 
the  large  number  of  songs  which  express  appreciation  of  nature. 
The  Harmonists  felt  the  charm  of  the  close  contact  with  na- 
ture which  their  frontier  life  brought  with  it. 

Before  the  song  books  were  printed,  the  members  wrote  for 
themselves  in  strongly  bound  blank  books,  collections  of  their 
songs.  These  books  contain  some  songs  which  were  not 
printed.  One  manuscript  "Harmonisches  Gesangbuchlein,"  dated 
February  12,  1817,  belonged  to  Ludwig  Epple,  at  that  time  sev- 
enteen years  old.  One  short  unpublished  song  in  this  book  ex- 
presses what  the  Harmonist  conceived  to  be  his  mission: 

„Dein  Denkmal  soil  am  Himmel  glanzen, 

Harmonie !  durch  manche  Lande 

Fahren   wir   und   schaflen   zum   Paradiese 

Jede  Wiistenei,  den  nackten 

Fels  zum  Rebenhtigel,   Milch   und  Wein 

Und  Honigquellen  rinnen. 


The  Harmony  Society.  155 

Unser   Fusstritt   spriesset    Rlumen, 

Und  reiche,  g-ute  Friichte. 

Singt  der  erhabenen,  hoch  befreiten  Harmonic, 

Singt!   Fesscln   zerspringen,   Thaten   gelingen  ; 

Du  wirst  singen,  nie  erliegen ; 

Freundeshand,  Vaterland, 

Geb'  ich  Dir  als  Unterpfand. 

Ruhm  und  Heil  und  Wonne  schweben 

Nah'  schon  iiber  Dir, 

Bald  ist  aus  Dein  Jammerleben, 

Ausgestanden  hier." 

Another  is  full  of  gratitude  to  "Harmonie"  for  the  material 
blessings  it  has  brought.  This  prosperity  is  regarded  as  the 
surety  of  the  richer  blessings  which  "Harmony"  will  confer  in 
the  future  life : 

„Gluckliche !  die  du  durch  eine  sichtbare  Scene  den  Werth 
einer  bessern  Zukunft  ahndest,  die  leitende  Weisheit  durch 
amsige  Thatigkeit  und  Fleiss  veredelt  deinen  freien  Staat,  dass 
du  den  Schrecken  des  darbenden  Jahres  nicht  fuhlest,  dich  treibt 
kein  Hunger  aus  thranenloser  D^spoten  Landern,  denn  dein 
reicher  Gewinn  von  tief  geackerten  eigenen  Saaten  und  tippigen 
Wiesen  ertheilt  den  Ueberfluss  willig;  dein  ambrosisches  Thai 
voll  Honig  und  starkender  Dufte ;  allerlei  Mohn,  des  Rebs  und 
Ruben  Krauter,  und  Bliithen  bestaubter  Weizen  und  Roggen 
staumeln  verwebt  unter  einander  in  Freundschaft.  Liebetrunken 
befordern  die  lauen  Liifte  ihren  geheimen  Bund ;  zu  dem  um- 
athmenden  schwellenden  Friihling  ernstlich  lass  nun  horen  die 
Torue  deines  Gesangs,  O,  schone  Harmonie,  du  rettende  Gottin 
der  heilenden  Krafte,  der  aromatischen  Stande  der  Myrrhe.  Der 
Inhalt  deiner  Gesange  ist  Anmuth,  sie  erheben  uns  zum  reizenden 
Urbild,  zur  feinsten  Empfindung  und  zum  reinen  Geschmack. 
Du  erhebst  uns  in  Bliithen  warmende  Zonen,  mildere  Sonnen 
entbluhen  dir,  duitende  Rosen  mitten  im  Paradiese  der  Flora: 
lieblich  tont  deine  Stimme  in  den  Garten,  wo  in  Amerikas  Bii- 
schen  und  Waldern  die  deutsche  Nachtigall  flothet ;  reizend  ist 
deine  Aussicht,  suss  dein  Wohllaut,  unter  alien  ist  doch  keine 
so  schon  wie  du. 


156  The  Harmony  Society. 

Du  himmlische  Jungfrau  von  Edens  Revier, 
Zur  heiligen  Botschaft  erlesen, 
Entschwebest  den  niederen  Gestalten  allhier, 
Verbindst  dich  mit  hohren  Wesen" 

A  third  song  fortells  the  extension  of  Harmonie's  realm: 
„Schwing'  deinen  schweren  Flug,  O,  Harmonie!  Du  Zeiten- 
Messerin,  Du  Ordnerin  der  irdischen  und  himmlischen  Dinge. 
Dein  Geist  wird  noch  tiber  Lander  und  Stadt',  und  duftende  Seen, 
und  schachtichte  Berge  schweben.  Dein  Feld  ist  gross  und  weit, 
auf  deiner  Flur  singt  schon  friih  die  angenehme  Lerche;  bald 
werden  suchen  die  Elenden  Deinen  Hain,  und  Dich  finden  im 
lachenden  Thale,  wo  alle  Freuden  sich  sammeln,  allwo  schim- 
mert  dein  herrlicher  Strahl,  begeisterer  Menschen,  vom  allbe- 
lebenden  Licht  und  erquickender  Warme.  Noch  alles  erhalt  Be- 
wegung  durch  Dich,  und  Leben  und  Bildung.  Du,  Fruhling  der 
goldenen  Zeit,  Du  vollendest  den  Wechsel  der  Zeit,  treibst  das 
Leben  an,  am  fruhen  Morgen  des  Jahrs,  dass  es  die  Erde  ent- 
schliesse,  und  die  wartende  Keime.  Willig  befolgst  Du,  O,  Har- 
monie, Dein  Amt,  und  lockst  mit  warmender  Liebe  glanzend 
Saaten  hervor,  und  brutest  die  schwellende  Knospen,  mit 
welchen  erwachst  das  Reich  der  Schonheit  und  Liebe. 

Sieh,  hier  der  Himmel  ist  auf  Erden, 
Durch  Menschen  sollen  Menschen  werden, 
Wenn  Macht  und  Weisheit  sie  regiert 
Und  Billigkeit  das  Zepter  fuhrt." 

In  another  manuscript  book  of  Epple's  Harmony  is  defined 
as  the  revelation  of  God  in  nature : 

„Schonheit  ist  das  Gottliche  in  der  Natur  und  Schopfung. 
Mein  Herz  schauert  Wonne  vor  der  Grosse  dieses  Gedankens! 
Und  in  was  offenbart  sich  das  Schone,  das  Gottliche?  In  Har- 
monie. Was  sehet,  was  horet,  was  fuhlt  ihr  da?  Alles  ist  ganz 
wahr,  nothwendig,  nicht  ausgewiirfelt  zu  seinem  Effect,  sondern 
berechnet ;  kein  Theil  ist  zu  wenig,  keins  zu  viel ;  keiner  verzehrt, 
noch  verschoben ;  nichts  eingestiickt,  hoch  aufgefluckt ;  alles  ein, 
ein  grosses  zusammenhangendes,  zusammenstimmendes,  engver- 
bundenes,  und  sich  frei  schwebendes  ganzes  ist  Harmonie. 
Welche  Linien,  welche  Wendungen,  welche  leise  Verbindungen 


The  Harmony  Society.  157 

ohne  Liicken  !  Dein  Lebensdrang,  O  Harmonic,  ist  Ausbreitung, 
Ausdehnung,  rastlose,  unermiidct  nimmcr  stillstchende  Be- 
wegung!  Siehe  also  Gott  und  Harmonie!  Da,  da  wehen  die 
Abendwinde  seiner  Gegenwart.  Harmonie  voll  Leben,  ein  all- 
gebarender  Friihling  zum  alios  reifenden  Sommer.  Ohne  Har- 
monie gibts  keine  Schonheit ;  Tlimmel  und  Erde  sind  darin  zu- 
sammengebunden.  Da  schwebt  die  wunderbare  Schopfung  auf 
ihren  Schwingen.     Was  ware  Harmonie  ohne  Leben? 

Mr.  Henrici  wrote  a  number  of  songs  and  poems.     The  fol- 
lowing has  been  preserved: 

„Veilchen,  Rosen,  Lilien,  Nelken, 
Wachsen,  bliihen  und  verwelken ; 
So  auch  Kinder,  jung  und  schon, 
Mussen  oft  gar  bald  vergehen. 

Doch  wenn  sie  hier  fromm  und  gut, 
Werden  sie  mit  Jesu  Blut 
Rein  gewaschen  und  geziert, 
Und  ins  Paradies  gefiihrt. 

Wo  sie  denn  erzogen  werden 
Besser,  als  hier  auf  der  Erden, 
Wo  viel  bose  Menschen  leben, 
Die  ein  gottlos  Beispiel  geben. 

Darum  sollen  wir  nicht  weinen, 
Wenn  der  Herr  den  lieben  Kleinen 
Seine  guten  Engel  schickt 
Und  sie  der  Gefahr  entriickt. 

Drum  wollt'  lieber  jung  ich  sterben, 
Als  im  Siindentod  verderben. 
Nur  wer  Jesu  Wort  hier  halt, 
Geht  in  eine  bessre  Welt. 

Liebster  Heiland,  darum  mache, 
Dass  ich  allzeit  bet'  und  wache, 
Dass  ich  gottlos  Wesen  meide, 
Mich  von  allem  Bosen  scheide. 


158  The  Harmony  Society. 

Dann  werd'  ich  der  Eltern  Freude, 
Und  des  Heilands  Kreuzesbeute, 
Und  sein  mild  vergossnes  Blut 
Gibt  mir  Trost  und  Kraft  und  Muth." 

The  following  tribute  in  verse  to  Jonathan  Lenz  was  written 
by  Mr.  Duss,  January  24,  1890: 

BEGRABNISSLIED. 

„Ein  treuer  Christ 

Und  guter  Harmonist 

Hat  hier  vollendet  seinen  Lauf; 

Er  hat  auf  Christus  hin, 

Gerichtet  seinen  Sinn, 

Bis  er  ihn  hat  genommen  auf. 

Mit  Worten  und  mit  That 

Er  hier  gewirket  hat, 

Den  schmalen  Weg  sich  hat  erwahlt, 

Und  ist  hier  in  der  Zeit 

Und  dort  in   Ewigkeit 

Zur  auserwahlten  Schaar  gezahlt. 

Die  auferlegte  Pflicht 

Hat  ihn  erschrecket  nicht, 

Er  schmiegte  sich  an  Christo  an, 

Und,  weil  er  so  gemacht, 

Jetzt  da  er  es  vollbracht, 

Wird  er  dort  seinen  Lohn  empfahn. 

Wohl  dem  der's  also  macht, 
Und  hier  durch  diese  Nacht 
Empor  zum  hellen  Lichte  dringt; 
So  wird  er  hier  und  dort 
Erfahren   fort  und  fort, 
Was  ihm  die  Gnade  Gottes  bringt. 

Herr,  hilf,  dass  wir  den  Blick 
Nicht  wenden  mehr  zuriick ; 
Dass  wir  mit  voller  Zuversicht 
Und  kindlichem  Vertrauen, 
Auf  Jesum  Christum  bauen, 
Denn  er  verlasset  uns  ja  nicht. 


The  Harmony  Society.  159 

Lass  uns  in  dieser  StuncT 

Erneuern  unsern  Bund, 

Zu  leben  wie  es  Dir  gefallt, 

Bis  dass  in  jenem  Land 

Von  Deiner  Vaterhand 

Ein  jedes  seine   Kron'   erhalt." 

Mr.  Duss  also  wrote  the  ,,Osterlied,  geschrieben  auf  das 
Osterfest,  April  6,  1890/' 

„Viel  Segen  diesem  Feiertag, 
Da  kund  ward  fur  und  fur, 
Welch'  grosse  Lieb'  der  Vater  hat 
Zu  seinen  Kindern  hier. 

Den  eignen  Sohn  vorschont  nicht  hat, 
Ihn  gab  zum  Opfer  dar, 
Am  dritten  Tag,  O  welche  Gnad/ 
Erwecket  wunderbar! 

So  ist  uns  heute  kund  gethan, 
Dass  die  so  heilig  gehn 
Den  Wandel  ihrer  Lebensbahn 
Auch  werden  auferstehen. 

Und  alle  die  da  glaubig  sind 
Nicht  soll'n  verloren  sein ; 
Und  jedes  fromme  Menschenkind 
Zu  ihm  kann  gehen  ein. 

Drum  sei  viel  Dank,  Lob,  Preis  und  Ruhm, 
Herr,  heute   Dir  bereit't ! 
Wir  weihen  uns  Dir  zum  Eigenthum, 
In  Zeit  und  Ewigkeit !" 

The  Harmonists  retained  their  Swabian  dialect.  With  this 
in  the  course  of  time,  some  English  words  were  mixed,  but  not 
many,  owing  to  the  slight  contact  of  most  of  the  members  with 
the  outer  world.  Few  traces  of  dialect  appear  in  their  corre- 
spondence, which  is  either  in  normal  German  or  in  English.     The 


160  The    Harmony    Society. 

persons  who  conducted  this  correspondence,  Frederick  Rapp, 
Gertrude  Rapp,  Mr.  Baker,  Mr.  Henrici  and  Mr.  Duss,  had  the 
faculty  of  clear  and  forcible  expression.  Their  business  letters 
are  models  of  clearness  and  conciseness,  and  their  personal  let- 
ters are  graceful  and  polished.  Mr.  Henrici  was  a  purist  in  style, 
both  in  German  and  English.  He  frequently  re-wrote  a  letter 
several  times  before  he  was  satisfied  with  it. 

Early  in  the  history  of  the  Society,  some  effort  was  made 
by  the  leaders  to  cultivate  a  purer  German  among  the  members, 
as  the  following  letter  to  Mr.  Henrici  shows : 

„Economy,  Februar  27,  1829. 
Jacob ! 

Es  ist  Dir  bekannt,  dass  unser  Vorsteher  den  Wunsch  ge- 
aussert,  dass  die  sammtlichen  Gemeinsglieder  sich  befleissen 
moehten,  ein  reines  Deutsch  zu  sprechen,  und  ihre  angewohnte, 
grobe,  verdorbene  Redensart  zu  verbessern.  Du  weisst,  dass 
manche,besonders  junge  Leute,sich  den  Vorsatz  gemacht,seinem 
Wunsch  nachzukommen,  und  sich  eine  Zeitlang  darin  geubt 
haben,  aber  leider  zu  bald  wieder  lassig  wurden,  und  im  alten 
Weg  angingen,  wie  zuvor. 

Jede  moralische  Verbesserung,  wie  alle  andere,  hat  einen 
Anfang,  der  gemeinlich  klein,  und  ofters  schwierig  ist,  aber  was 
vermag  der  ernste  Wille  durch  die  Ausdauer,  besonders  wenn 
sich  mehrere  zu  einem  Zweck  vereinigen. 

Du  bist  Lehrer  und  vielleicht  der  erste  Mann  in  verschiedenen 
Hinsichten,  der  besagte  Verbesserung  am  ersten  betreiben  sollte. 
Willst  Du  einen  Anfang  machen,  so  bin  ich  der  zweite,  der  mit 
einstimmt,  und  viele,  besonders  unsere  Compagnie,  treten  bei. 
Denke  einmal  dariiber  nach  und,  wenn  Du  Lust  hast,  so  mache 
mir  einen  schriftlichen  Vorschlag,  wie  die  Sache  am  ftiglichsten 
einzuleiten  ware,  damit  unser  Bestreben  mit  gutem  Erfolg  ge- 
kront  wird. 

Dein  Bruder, 

R.  L.  BAKER." 

But  the  project  here  suggested  was  not  executed.  Mr.  Baker 
himself  in  later  years,  when  spiritual  leader,  preached  to  the  peo- 
ple in  that  Swabian  dialect,  the  use  of  which  he  had  once  sought 
to  discontinue. 


The    Harmony    Society.  l6l 

The  failure  to  distinguish  between  the  surd  and  sonant  stops, 
and  the  consequent  confusion  of  the  symbols  for  these  sounds, 
appears  frequently.  In  George  Rapp's  letter,  of  September  12, 
1803,  the  forms  occur:  Lengester  (Lancaster),  Cumperland 
(Cumberland),  enthalden  (enthalten),  verhalden,  Pabiere  (Pa- 
piere),  Dantzet  (tanzt),  Zehenden  (Zehnten).  In  this  letter  the 
plural  "Mann"  (Manner)  is  used.  In  a  poem  by  Jacob  NefT,  1804, 
occur:  Basse  (Passe),  dessediren  (dessertieren),  pumben  (pum- 
pen),  dreiben  (treiben),  Kreise  (Greise),  Sebratist  (Sepratist). 
He  also  uses  the  form  "willt"  (willst).  Elsewhere  are  met: 
Meiten  (meiden),  munder  (munter),  vertammen,  Walter  (Wil- 
der).    Frederick  Rapp  once  writes  "geloffen"  (gelaufen). 

English  units  of  measure  frequently  occur  in  German  letters: 
Dollar,  cent,  section,  acre.  Other  English  expressions  met  with 
are:  Profit,  agreement,  trouble  (Trubel),  editor,  presents,  reels, 
pattern,  doubling  and  twisting  machines.  In  conversation  they 
used  "fence"  (Fenz)  for  Zaun  and  "yard"  for  Hof.  The  out- 
building in  each  yard  used  as  a  general  store  room  was  the 
"Schopple"  (shop).  Beneath  the  "Schopple"  was  the  "Ruben- 
loch"  a  small  cellar  for  beets,  perhaps  also  potatoes  or  apples. 
Little  chickens  were  called  "Henkele."  They  always  got  their 
meat  from  the  "Butscher"  (butcher)  at  his  "Schopp."  The  tin 
shop  was  the  "Blechnerschopp ;"  "Stohr"  was  always  used  for 
Laden.  A  clearing  was  a  "Klaring"  or  "Klarung,"  a  wood-pas- 
ture a  "Waldpaster."  On  the  whole,  the  number  of  English 
words  in  general  use  among  them  was  comparatively  small. 

The  fields  they  cleared  they  called :  Gerbers  Wiese,  Gosen- 
feld,  Schmidtefeld,  Brauns  Klamme,  Kalksfenklamme,  Blumen- 
thal,  Zuckerthal  —  where  they  made  maple  sugar ;  Hirschwanne, 
where  the  last  deer  was  shot,  Hesslersthale.  The  north  street  of 
the  town  was  the  "Rothe  Gassle,"  so  named  from  several  build- 
ings painted  red. 

It  is  just  one  hundred  years  since  George  Rapp  led  his  fel- 
low Separatists  to  America.  The  Society  which  they  formed  is 
a  unique  example  of  the  religious  community.  Throughout  its 
entire  history,  it  has  been  directed  by  persons  of  unusual  ability, 
while  the  intelligence  and  culture  of  the  members  were  equal  or 
superior  to  that  of  their  neighbors.     It  is  doubtful  if  any  colony 


1 62  The    Harmony    Society. 

of  700  persons  in  American  history  has  comprised  more  general 
intelligence  and  industrial  efficiency.  In  business  matters  the 
Society's  name  was  synonymous  with  integrity. 

The  Harmony  Society  has  almost  passed  away*,  but  its  in- 
fluence will  long  be  felt.  It  was  an  important  factor  in  the  in- 
dustrial development  of  Western  Pennsylvania  and  Southern 
Indiana.  Its  members  were  pioneers  in  the  manufacture  of  cot- 
ton and  woolen  goods,  of  oil,  of  silk,  in  the  use  of  steam  for 
mnaufacturing  purposes  in  the  western  country.  To  it  the  town 
of  Beaver  Falls,  Pennsylvania,  owes  its  conception  and  estab- 
lishment. 

The  opinion  of  Robert  Owen,  who  purchased  their  Indiana 
settlement,  has  been  fully  justified  by  the  latter  history  of  the 
Society.  "It  is  due  to  the  Society  who  formed  this  settlement  to 
state  that  I  have  not  yet  met  with  more  kind  hearted,  temperate 
and  industrious  citizens,  nor  found  men  more  sincere,  upright 
and  honest  in  all  their  dealings,  than  the  Harmonists."* 

BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

Reise  Sr.  Hoheit  des  Herzogs  Bernhard     zu   Sachsen-Weimar- 

Eisenach  durch  Nordamerika  1825 — 26.     Herausgegeben  von 

Heinrich  Luden.     Weimar  1828,  II. 
Atlantic  Monthly.     May,  1866.    The  Harmonists.     R.  H.  Davis. 
The  Harmony  Society.  Pittsburg,  1866.  Aaron  Williams,  D.  D. 
Communistic  Societies  in  the  United  States.     By  Charles  Nord- 

hoff  (The  Harmonists  at  Economy).     New  York.     Harper 

&  Bros.     1875. 
Scribner's  Magazine.     Vol.  XVII,  703  (1879).     The  Harmonists 

and  George  Rapp.     By  D.  E.  Nevin. 
Aus  der  transatlantischen  Gesellschaft,  Nordamerikanische  Kur- 

turbilder.     Von  Karl  Knortz  (Die  Christliche  kommunisti- 

sche  Colonie  der  Rappisten).     Leipzig,  1882. 
George  Rapp,  Founder  of  the  Harmony  Society.     By  W.  I.  Da- 

venny.     In  Magazine  of  Western  History,  II,  510  (1885.) 


*  April  15,  1904,  one  of  the  four  members  of  the  Society  died.  At 
that  date  the  survivors  were  Mrs.  Susie  C.  Duss,  Trustee,  Franz  Gillmann 
and  Barbara  Bosch. 

*The  New  Harmony  Communities,  p.  41. 


tools  made;  by  the  society. 


The    Harmony    Society.  163 

American  Magazine.  The  Harmonite  Community.  By  H.  D. 
Mason.     March,  1888. 

Gelautert.  Von  Louise  Zehnder-Weil.  Stuttgart  (Verlag  von 
D.  Gundert).     1891.     Zweite  Auflage. 

Amerikanische  LeBensbilder  oder  Erlebnisse  deutscher  Auswan- 
derer  in  Amerika.     Von  Louise  Weil. 

Canadian  Magazine.  VII.  199.  Communistic  Celebates  at  Econ- 
omy, Pennsylvania.     By  M.  T.  Bayard. 

American  Communities.  The  Community  of  Economy.  By 
Hinds.     Chicago,   1902. 

The  New  Harmony  Communities.  By  George  Browning.  Lock- 
wood,  Indianapolis,  1902. 


164  The    Harmony    Society. 


APPENDIX. 


George  Rapp  and  the  Separatist  Movement  in  Iptingen,  Wurtem- 
berg,  from  1785  to  1805. 


Ausziige  aus  alten  Akten,  besonders  Kirchenconvents- 
protokollen.* 

1.     „Iptingen,  15.  April  1785. 

Nachdem  sich  ein  Separatist  von  hier  mit  seinem  Eheweib 
hervorgetan  und  sich  solche  beide  nicht  nur  uberhaupt  von  der 
Kirche,  sondern  auch  von  dem  christlichen  Gebrauch  des  heili- 
gen  Abendmahls  abgesondert,  so  wurde  kraft  herzoglicher  Ver- 
ordnung  der  Separatist  mit  seinem  Eheweib  vorgefordert  und 
zu  Protokoll  vernommen: 

(a)  Wie  er  heisst  und  wie  alt  er  ist? 

Hans  Jorg  Rapp,  Adams    Sohn,    Achtundzwanzig 
Jahre. 
Ob  er  ein  Handswerkmann  oder  Bauer? 

Des  Handwerks  ein  Weber. 
Wie  sein  vorhergehendes  Leben  gewesen? 

Uebel,  und  er  habe  sich  der  Kirchenzucht  nicht  un- 
terworfen,  weshalb  ihm  der  Pastor  das  Consilium  gegeben,  dies- 
mal  sollte  er  sich  vom  Abendmahl  enthalten  bis  auf  weitere  Bes- 
serung. 

Ob  er  sich  vollig  und  auf  immer  von  der  Kirche  und 
dem  offentlichen  Gebrauch  des  heiligen  Abendmahls  zu  enthalten 
gedenke? 

Ja,   auf   immer. 


♦These  excerpts  from  the  local  archives  of  Iptingen  were  obtained  by 
Professor  Learned  through  the  kindly  efforts  of  Pastor  Riethmtiller,  of 
Goechingen,  from  the  late  Pastor  Elsenhans,    of    Iptingen. 


The  Harmony  Society. 

Was  er  vor  Anstosse  deshalb  habe? 

Weil  er  die  Quelle  selbst  gefunden  habe  und  der 
Korper  selbst  in  Christo  Jesu  sei. 

Ob  er  solches  schriftlich  von  sich  zu  geben  bereit  sei? 
Ja,  er  wolle  solches  bis  Sonntag     dem     Pfarramt 
uberreichen. 

Ob  er  seine  Principia  ausbreite  und  andern  beizubringen 
suche? 

Nein,  wann  ihn  niemand  frage,  so  sage  er  nichts. 
Wer  zu  ihm  komme? 

Christian  Hornle  und  Michael  Conzelmann  hier. 
Zu  wem  er  komme? 

Er  komme  in  gar  kein  Haus,  weder  in  Christian 
Hornles  Haus. 

Was  er  fur  Biicher  brauche? 

Er  habe  gar  kein  Buch  ausser  seiner  Mutter  Bibel 
und  dem  siebenten  Teil  Dr.  Luthers  Biicher. 

Ob  er  keine  Biicher  sonst  unter  die  Gemeinde,  woher  er 
es  auch  habe,  zu  bringen  trachte? 
Nein. 
Ob  und  wann  und  mit  wem  er  Convent  halte? 

Bei  Nacht  gleich  nach  dem  Nachtessen  kommt 
Christian  Hornle  und  Michael  Conzelmann  bald  am  Dienstag, 
bald  Mittwoch  oder  Donnerstag  zusammen  und  da  halten  sie  eine 
Betstunde  miteinander. 

Ob  auch  Fremde  zu  ihm  kommen? 

Nein. 
Ob  und  wohin  er  am  Sonn-  und  Feiertag  auslaufe? 

Weil  es  bisher  Winter  gewesen,  so  sei  er  nirgends 
hingekommen. 

Ob  er  etwas  vom  gemeinen  Almosen  geniesse? 
Nein. 

Ob  er  zum  gemeinen  Almosen  beitrage? 

Nein,  ins  Waisenhaus  gebe  er  jahrlich  etwas. 

t.  praevia  praetectione :  Johann  Georg  Rapp. 


1 66  The  Harmony  Society. 

(b)   Des  Hans  Jorg  Eheweib. 

Ob  sie  ihres  Ehemanns  Gesinnung  sei  wegen  der  ganz- 
lichen  Enthaltung  von  der  Kirche  und  vom  offentlichen  Gebrauch 
des  heiligen  Abendmahls? 

Ja,  so  lang  sie  keinen  Trieb  in  die  Kirche  zu  gehen 
in  sich  finde  und  keinen  Trieb  fiihle  zum  heiligen  Abendmahl  zu 
gehen,  so  lang  sei  sie  ihres  Ehemannes  Gesinnung. 

Ob  sie  das  von  ihr  selber  thue  oder  ihrem  Ehemann  zu 
Gefallen? 

Sie  thue  es  von  ihr  selber. 
Was  sie  dann  vor  Ursache  dazu  habe? 

Es  sei  ihr  unertraglich,  dass  man  wieder  die  Sepa- 
ratisten  predige. 

Ob  sie  nicht  wisse,  dass  ich   (der  Pfarrer)     daftir     zu 
stehen  habe,  wann  ich  als  ein  stummer  Hund  der  Spaltung  in 
der  Kirche  nicht  wehre? 
Ja. 
Ob  sie  also  auf  obigem  Satz  beharre? 
Ja,  sie  bleibe  dabei. 

t.  praevia  praetectione, 

Christine  Rappin. 
Z.  B.  der  Verhandlung, 

Kirchenconvent : 

M.  Andreas  Genter 
Johann  Georg  Hacker, 
Johann  Friedrich  Kramer, 
Israel  Schmid. 
2.     Erst  am  23.  Januar  1787  erfolgte  auf  Weisung  des  her- 
zoglichen  Consistoriums  eine  Mahnung  an  das  „separatistische 
Ehepaar  und  Consorten"  von  ihrer  Gesinnung  abzugehen,  sich 
wieder  zur  Kirche  zu  halten  und  „doch  keine  Versammlung  hal- 
ten  zu  wollen,  welches  der  Kirche  Gottes,  mithin  dem  Reich  Jesu 
Christi,  hochst  nachteilig." 

Dabei  erklart  Rapp  er  bleibe  bei  dem  fruheren  und  er  konne 
sich  zu  der  jetzigen  Art  in  der  Kirche  nicht  verstehen. 

Was  er  meine?  Es  sei  das,  was  in  der  Bibel  stehe,  nur  ein 
Zeugniss  von  dem  selbststandigen  Wort,  das  Niemand  als  er  und 
seine  Briider  kenne.  Das  Abendmahl  sei  ein  Gotzendienst  und 
greuliche  Lasterung. 


The    Harmony    Society.  r  7 

Er  sage  das  nur  unter  den  Briidern,  aber  die  Versammlungen 
lassen  sie  sich  nicht  wehren.  Den  Pfarrer  erkenne  er  weder  als 
im  Namen  Gottes  berufen  und  lehrend  an,  noch  stehe  ihm  von 
staatsweg  geistliche  Macht  zu,  namentlich  konne  er  nimmer- 
mehr  in  Gottes  Namen  Siinden  losen  und  binden. 

Ganz  ahnlich  spricht  auch  Christian  Hornle,  der  einige  Bu- 
cher  angibt,  .  .  Berlenburger  Bibel,  .  .  und  ein  Buch  von  der  Wi- 
derbringung  aller  Dinge,  und  seine  Ehefrau  Susanne,  wclche 
tiberzeugt,  dass  ihr  Mann  „den  rechten  Weg"  habe. 

Michael  Conzelmann :  Die  Kirche  sei  nicht  die  wahre,  weil 
nicht  wiedergeboren ;  die  Bibel  enthalte  Geheimnisse  und 
Rathsel. 

Ebenso  Johannes  Hornle;  weniger  entschieden  die  Ehefrau 
Katharine  des  Schuhmacher  Walz. 

3.  Da  weitere  Vorstellungen  und  Entscheid  zttm  Aufgeben 
der  Absonderung  und  besonders  zur  Abbitte  des  Rapp  wegen 
seiner  Herabsetzung  des  Pfarrers  erfolglos,  wird  am  17.  Februar 
1787  alles  dem  gemeinschaftlichen  Oberamt  iibergeben. 

4.  Hierher  gehort  der  aus  dem  „Gemeinen  Flecken  Brauch- 
buch"  im  Rathaus  entnommene  Gemeinschaftlich  oberamtliche 
Befehl  die  hiesigen  Separatisten  betreffend : 

Mit  innigster  Betriibnis  und  Unwillen  haben  wir  aus  den 
eingekommenen  Berichten  . .  ersehen,  was  fur  Eigenmachtigkei- 
ten  sich  Hans  Jorg  Rapp,  Christian  Hornle,  Michael  Conzelmann 
und  Johannes  Hornle  in  dem  unsrer  Aufsicht  gnadigst  anvertrau- 
ten  Amtsort  Iptingen  herausnehmen  und  was  fur  eine  Zemittung 
in  Kirche,  Schule  und  Polizei  daher  zu  besorgen  stehe. 

Auswartige  Separatisten  verehren  Gott  in  der  Stille  nach 
ihren  Begriffen,  lassen  die  offentlichen  Anstalten  unangefochten 
und  ftigen  sich  den  landesherrlichen  Verordnungen  mit  dem 
besten  Willen.  Wann  aber  Hans  Jorg  Rapp  und  seine  An- 
hanger  dem  vortrefflichen  Generalrescript  vom  10.  Oktober  1743 
schnurstracks  zuwider  handeln,  den  geistlichen  Stand  gar  nicht 
erkennen  wollen,  und  was  den  weltlichen  Stand  anbetrifft,  sich 
erfrechen,derihnenvorgesetzten  Ortsobrigkeit  bei  Publikationder 
herrschaftlichen  Verordnung  zu  antworten  :  ,,das  lassen  wir  tins 
nicht  nehmen,  das  lassen  wir  tins  nicht  verbieten ;"  wann  sie  von 
der  heilgen  Bibel  geringfiigig  urteilen  —  wann  sie  das  heilige 


1 68  The  Harmony  Society. 

Abendmahl  unbestimmt  als  ein  Gotzenopfer  lastern  —  warm  sie 
mit  unertraglichem  Stolz  alles  urn  sich  herum  verdammen,  die 
Kirchganger  offentlich  fur  Heuchler  erklaren,  sich  (wie  wir  zu- 
verlassig  wissen)  Anhanger  und  Jiinger  zu  werben  suchen,  allein 
Herren  sein,  eine  eigne  Kirche  statt  der  offentlichen  Kirche,  und 
einen  eignen  Staat  im  Staat  ausmachen  wollen,  ....  so  ist  der 
Name  Separatist  viel  zu  gelind  fiir  sie ;  sie  sind  gefahrliche  Storer 
der  offentlichen  Kirche  und  Ordnung,  folglich  der  Duldung  un- 
fahig  und  auf  eine  einstweilige  Probe  einer  ernsthafteren  Behand- 
lung  benotigt. 

Demnach  wollen  wir  zur  Abwendung  weiteren  Unfugs  fol- 
gendes  verordnen: 

1.  Die  Leute  sind  in  gleichem  Grad  unwissend  und  stolz, 
daneben  in  ihren  Angaben  nicht  redlich.  Aus  diesem  Grund 
halten  wir  fiir  notig,  dass  unversehens  zu  gleicher  Zeit  in  jedes 
ihrer  Hauser  zwei  Deligierte  vom  Magistrat  geschickt  werden, 
die  sich  nach  den  vorhandenen  Buchern  umsehen,  die  Bibel, 
Schulbiicher  und  anderen  allgemeinen  Erbauungsbiieher  zu- 
riicklassen,  die  ubrigen  aber  dem  Pfarramt  zur  Einsicht  uber- 
liefern  sollen. 

2.  Nach  diesem  wollen  sich,  wie  bei  Verfassung  des  Proto- 
kolls,  so  auch  nunmehr  bei  der  Eroffnung  unseres  Bescheids  die 
geistliche  und  weltliche  Gemeindevorsteher  versammeln,  die 
oben  benannten  Manner  nebst  den  separatistischen  Weibern  vor- 
bescheiden  und  aus  Vorstehendem  ihnen  zu  erkennen  geben,  wie 
wir  die  Sache  ansehen  und  dass  ihnen  die  biirgerlichen  Beneficien 
und  namentlich  die  Holzgabe  so  lange  zuruckbehalten  werde, 
bis  sie  sich  eines  Besseren  begreifen  und  in  Ordnung  fiigen.  So- 
dann  solle: 

a.  Hans  Jorg  Rapp  seinen  gegen  den  wohlverdienten  heili- 
gen  Pfarrer,  M.  Genter,  bezeugten  Trotz  demselben  vor  dem  ge- 
sessenen  Gericht  abbitten  oder  aber  im  Verweigerungsfall  mit 
verhaltnismassiger  Einkerkerung  abbtissen. 

b.  Nachstdem  ware  der  Susanna,  Christian  Hornles  Ehe- 
weib  zu  erkennen  zu  geben,  dass  ihre  elende  Erklarung  uns  be- 
sorgen  mache,  der  Weg,  von  dem  sie  keinen  Verstand  habe, 
mochte  sie  ins  Tollhaus  ftihren. 


The  Harmony  Society.  169 

c.  Vergcht  sich  in  der  Folge  einer  oder  der  andere  erweis- 
lich  mit  unziemlichen  Reden  oder  gar  mit  Lasterung  wicder  die 
heilige  Schrift,  Sakramente,  Kirche,  Predigtamt,  herzogliche 
Verordnung,  so  soil  er  unmittelbar  nebst  Bericht  zum  herzog- 
lichen  Oberamt  Maulbronn  wohl  verwahrlich  eingeliefert 
werden. 

d.  Das  langst  verbotene  Auslaufen  an  Sonn-  und  Feiertagen 
muss  nach  den  vorliegenden  Verordnungen  geriigt  werden. 

e.  Der  Umgang  unter  den  offentlichen  Gottesdiensten  an 
Sonn-  und  Feiertagen  muss  genau  gehalten,  notigenfalls  mit  meh- 
reren  Personen  verstarkt,  die  Hauser  der  Widerspenstigen  visi- 
tirt,  sie  auseinander  getrieben  und  Bosch  von  Wieresheim  mit 
Bedrohung  der  Einkerkerung  auf  den  Wiederbetretungsfall  zum 
Daheimbleiben  verwiesen  werden. 

Noch  haben  wir  fur  die  Sonne  des  Christian  Hornle  zu 
sorgen : 

a.  Den  iojahrigen  Sohn  Israel  wolle  Herr  Pastor  von  der 
gottlichen  Anordnung  des  Predigtamts,  von  dem  Nutzen  unse- 
rer  kirchlichen  Verfassung  und  Anstalten,  von  dem  schuldigen 
Gehorsam  gegen  die  Obrigkeit,  von  der  Gefahr  derer,  die  an- 
dern  Aergernis  geben,  liebreich  belehren,  um  ihn  zu  tiberzeugen, 
dass  er  Gott  mehr  gehorchen  miisste  als  den  Menschen,  auch 
seinen  Eltern,  sofort  ihn  zu  rleissiger  Besuchung  der  Kirche  und 
besonders  zum  Vorstehen  in  der  Kinderlehre  und  Sonntags- 
schule  zu  ermahnen.  Folgt  er  aber  nicht,  so  ist  er  kirchencon- 
ventlich  fur  eine  jede  vorsatzliche  Versaumnis  den  bekannten 
Vorschriften  gemiiss  zu  bestrafen. 

b.  Eine  ahnliche  Vorstellung  solle  der  Schulmeister  dem 
Schulknaben  machen  und  ihn  de  facto  zum  Rechnen  anhalten. 

Gott  gebe,  dass  die  offenbar  irre  gehenden  Leute  zur 
Erkenntnis  der  Wahrheit  kommen. 

Wir  gewartigen  uns  zu  seiner  Zeit  weiteren  Bericht  von 
dem  Erfolg  der  Sachen  und  dieser  unsrer  einstweiligen  Verfii- 
gung.  Uebrigens  wird  wegen  der  subordinationswidrigen  ja 
gotteslasterlichen  Ausdriicke  das  weitere  vorbehalten   und   auf 


170  The  Harmony  Society. 

das  kiinftige  Benehmen  dieser  schwarmerischen   Leute   ausge- 
setzt. 

Maulbronn,  den  8.  Februar  1782. 

Gemeinschaftliches  Oberamt  Maulbronn  —  Dtirrmenz. 
Rumelin,  M.  Josef  Friedr.  Essich. 

5.  Erst  unter  dem  14.  Marz  1788  findet  sich  wieder  ein  Ein- 
trag  von  einem  Verhor  gegen  ein  neues  Glied,  Johann  Georg 
Waltz,  mit  der  neuen  Angabe,  dass  bei  den  Versammlungen 
Rapple  ein  Kapitel  aus  dem  Neuen  oder  auch  Alten  Testa- 
ment erklare,  wo  ihm  ein  Aufschluss  geschehe,  besonders  auch 
aus  der  OfTenbarung  Johannis.  Es  kommen  auch  Fremde  ein, 
zwei,  drei  bis  flinf,  zum  Teil  zehn  bis  zwolf  Stunden  her,  deren 
Namen  er  nicht  kenne,  er  hore  nur  zu. 

6.  Bei  einem  besonderen  Verhor  1790  gab  der  Separatist 
Hornle  an  auf  die  Frage : 

„Wie  es  der  Separatisten  in  kurzer  Zeit  so  viele  geworden? 
Sie  seien  fast  zumal  heraus  kommen,  da  der  Pfarrer  einmal  so 
gegen  sie  gepredigt;  da  habe  er  die  Sache  mit  dem  Rapp,  wel- 
cher  der  erste  gewesen,  gepriift  und  so  auch  die  andern,  bis  sie 
alle  von  diesem  Weg  zur  Seligkeit  Ueberzeugung  gewonnen." 

Der  Pfarrer  rechtfertigt  sich  dariiber :  Schon  zu  Anfang  des 
Jahres  sei  doch  amtlich  festgestellt  worden,  dass  die  und  die  sich 
von  der  Kirche  losgesagt,  so  habe  nicht  die  Predigt  an  Invocavit 
der  Anlass  zur  Trennung  sein  konnen,  vielmehr  seien  manche, 
die  hernach  im  Schwanken  gewesen,  ob  sie  jenen  folgen  wollen, 
nach  eigener  Aussage  wieder  befestigt  worden.  Uebrigens  wird 
ihm  dann  doch  besondere  Vorsicht  und  Milde  ans  Herz  gelegt. 
7.  In  einem  Protokoll  vom  7.  Juli  1792  werden  als  Ausspriiche 
Rapps  angefuhrt: 

„Die  Kirche  sei  ein  Babel ;"  „Die  Kirche  sei  nicht  von  Gott, 
sie  sei  vom  Teufel ;"  „von  den  PfafFen,  die  essen  und  trinken, 
ihren  Bauch  masten  und  die  Armen  nicht  versorgen;"  „Wie 
kann  reines  Wasser  aus  unlauteren  Quellen  kommen?" 

Ferner  wird  in  diesem  Protokoll  festgestellt,  dass  ihre  Ver- 
sammlungen bis  tiber  die  Mitternacht  hinaus  wahren,  dass  jetzt 
auch  teils  weither  Fremde  kommen:  Wieresheim,  Somersheim, 
Illingen,  Aurich  (zwei  Stunden),  Calus,  Gartringen,  Nuhringen, 
Ehningen  (sechs  Stunden  stidlicher  Gegend),  Walddorf,  Schorm- 


The  Harmony  Society.  17: 

dorf,  Striimpfelberg  (zehn  bis  zwolf  Stundcn  ostlich;  Romstal.) 
Dreissig,  ja,  fiinfzig-  bis  sechzig  Personen,  so  class  Hornle  am 
heiligen  Pfingstfest  eine  Diele  zersagte,  um  Bankc  zu  machen. 

8.  Weil  nun  die  Separatisten  ihre  Kinder  nicht  in  die  Schule 
schickten,  suchte  man  sie  um  desswillen  zu  strafen ;  bei  An- 
setzung-  von  sechs  Kreuzer  Strafe  erklarte  Rapp  hohnisch  und 
trotzig,  er  lass  es  zusammenkommen,  bis  er  hundert  Kreuzer 
seien. 

Ueber  den  Vorhalt,  dass  er  niichtliche  ungeordnete  Ver- 
sammlungen  dulde,  sagte  er  wieder  trotzig,  er  schliesse  sein 
Haus  vor  keinem  Menschen  zu>  der  gerne  zu  ihm  komme. 

9.  Die  nachsten  Protokolle  und  die  niichste  Zeit  bieten 
nicht  viel  Neues ;  es  scheint  aber  die  Unordnung  zugenommen 
zu  haben,  sofern 

a.  Nun  audi  der  Confirmandenunterricht  und  die  Confirma- 
tion verachtet  wurde. 

b.  Auch  andere  Leute  erklarten,  wenn  die  Separatisten  ihre 
Kinder  nicht  in  die  Schule  schicken  und  dariiber  nicht  gestraft 
und  gezwungen  werden,  so  behalten  sie  ihre  Kinder  auch 
daheim. 

c.  Die  Umganger  (eine  friiher  gebrauchliche  Kirchenpoli- 
zei,  welche  wiihrend  der  Gottesdienste  iiberall  nachsehen  soil- 
ten,  ob  in  den  Hausern  und  Strassen  des  Orts  nichts  sabbat- 
widriges  geschehe)  erklarten,  sie  konnen  ihr  Amt  nicht  mehr  aus- 
richten,  da  Rapp  sie  zwei  Teufelsboten  genannt  habe  und  ge- 
droht,  wenn  sie  wieder  in  ihre,  der  Separatisten,  Versammlungen 
kommen,  so  werden  sie  sehen,  was  geschehe ;  auch  habe,  wenn 
sie  nicht  die  Separatisten  zum  Gehorsam  oder  wirksamer  Strafe 
bringen  diirften,  ihr  ganzer  Umgang,  auch  bei  anderen,  keinen 
Wert. 

Es  ist  von  eigentlicher  Bestrafung  in  den  Protokollen  wenig 
zu  lesen,  nur  einmal  als  Rapp  vor  dem  Kirchenconvent  wegen 
liisterlicher  Reden  vorgeladen  ist,  gibt  er  an,  ,,um  dieser  willen 
sei  er  das  letztemal  nach  Maulbonn  citirt  und  von  hochloblichem 
Oberamt  mit  der  Turmstrafe  belegt  worden." 

10.  Im  Jahre  1798  erst  werden  Geldstrafen  angesetzt  und 
zwar  wegen  zweimaliger  eigenmachtiger  Taufe  ohne  Not  von 
seiten  des  Vaters  dem  Kocher  zehn  Reichstaler. 


172  The  Harmony  Society. 

Wegen  fortgesetzter  Schulversaumniss  verschiedene  ziem- 
lich  hohe  Summen,  so  dem  Rapp  selber  136  Gulden  14  Kreuzer; 
welche  Strafen  sie  zu  bezahlen  willig  versprachen. 

Solche  Taufen  kommen  nun  bei  mehreren  vor  von  seiten  der 
Vater,  auch  bei  einem  schwarmerischen  Schuhmacher  Walz,  der 
sich  im  tibrigen  nicht  zu  den  Rappischen  hielt. 

Spater  wird  Rapp  (Dezember  1799)  einmal  vorgeladen  und 
bestraft  mit  Geld  wegen  Holzsagens  und  -spaltens  und  Brannt- 
weinbrennens  am  Sonntag,  wobei  er  erklart,  ,,der  Sonntag  ver- 
binde  keinen  gewissenshalber  zur  Feier  desselben,  das  sei  eine 
judische  Ceremonie  und  innerhalb  Hauses  konne  jeder  tun  was 
er  wolle,  aber  dennoch  halten  sie  den  Sonntag  um  der  anderen 
willen."     Es  wurde  aber  das  nur  als  Ausflucht  angesehen. 

Weiter  wurden  vier  Separatisten  mit  Geld  bestraft,  weil  sie 
am  Karfreitag  wahrend  der  Vormittagskirche  von  einem  Hand- 
ler Sichweine  gekauft  und  sie  unter  der  Kirche  durch  die  Strassen 
heimgetrieben  haben. 

11.  1802  und  1803  wiederholen  sich  ahnliche  Protokolle, 
dass  von  den  Oberbehorden  immer  in  derselben  Weise  Erhebun- 
gen  angeordnet  werden,  im  ganzen  dieselben  Berichte  kommen 
und  dann  Mahnungen  und  Vorstellungen  sich  anschliessen.  So 
lautet  ein  Erlass : 

„Friedrich  der  Zweite  von  Gottes  Gnaden  Herzog  von 
Wurttemberg  und  Teck: 

Unsern  Gruss  zuvor,  lieben  Getreuen !  Wir  haben  bei  uns- 
rer  herzoglichen  Synode  ausserdem,  was  in  der  diesjahrigen 
Kirchenvisitationsrelation  von  Iptingen  von  dem  daselbst  immer 
wachsenden  Separatismus  uns  vorgekommen  ist,  noch  weiter 
von  andern  Seiten  her  in  Erfahrung  gebracht,  dass  die  Iptinger 
Separatisten  grosse  Zusammenkunfte  halten,  viele  Fremde  dazu- 
kommen,  und  die  Zahl  oft  liber  100  ansteige,  dass  Rapp  das 
heilge  Abendmahl  administrire,  Opfer  und  manche  andern  Ge- 
schenke  erhebe  und  dass  von  da  aus  eine  ausgebreitete  Corre- 
spondenz  selbst  ins  Ausland  geftihrt  werde.  Da  nun  sehr  viel 
daran  gelegen  ist  von  diesen  Tatsachen  Gewissheit  und  Beweise 
zu  erhalten,  so  wird  Euch  hiermit  gnadigst  aufgegeben,  in  der 
Stille  genaue  Nachforschung  anzustellen  und  das  Erlernte  gleich- 


The  Harmony  Society.  173 

balden  an  unser  Herzogliches  Consistorium  untertanigst  zu  be 

richten. 

Darin  geschiehet  unsre  Meinung  unci  wir  verbleiben  Euch  in 

Gnaden  gewogen. 

Stuttgart,   14.  Oktober   1802. 
Dem  Dekan  in  Diirrmenz  und  Oberamt  in  Maulbronn." 

12.  Unter  23.  Juli  1803  wird  ein  neuer  eindringlicher  Yer- 
such  gemacht,  „nach  Abzug  des  Georg  Rappen,  der  Haus  und 
Guter  verkauft  und  um  einen  neuen  Wohnsitz  sich  umsieht,  „die 
zuriickbleibenden  Separatisten  zur  Ordnung,  zur  Beschrankung 
ihrer  Versammlungen  auf  die  hiesigen  Mitglieder  und  auf  ge- 
ordnete  Stunden  (weder  wiihrend  eines  Gottesdienstes  noch  bei 
Nacht)  zu  bewegen. 

13.  Bald  kniipfen  sich  Verhandlungen  an,  dass  ein  Mann  ohne 
seine  Frau  nach  Amerika  will  und  zwar  mit  ihrer  Genehmigung, 
sic  will  jetzt  noch  nicht  mit,  vielleicht  spater  nachkommen. 
Johann  Georg  Wild  und  Anna  Maria  Wild,  den  4,  April  1804. 

Wer  und  wie  viele  Briider  im  Sommer  1804  dem  Rapp  ge- 
folgt  sind,  lasst  sich  nicht  bestimmen.  Wahrscheinlich  funf 
Ehepaare,  dreizehn  Kinder,  etliche  ledige  und  die  jetzt  anzu- 
fuhrende  Flattich. 

14.  Spater  will  die  Tochter  dieses  W'ild,  Ehefrau  des  Jakob 
Flattich,  mit  Vater  und  Briidern  audi  hinein,  dabei  hat  sic 
ihrem  Mann  bei  verschiedenen  Verkaufen  Geld  auf  die  Seite 
getan,  Kleider  und  Betten  verkauft.  Sie  lasst  sich  nach  mehr- 
fachem  Zureden  zu  dem  Versprechen  bringen,  bei  ihrem  Ehe- 
mann  zu  bleiben.  Wie  es  aber  darauf  ankommt,  geht  sie  doch 
mit  und  hinterlasst  nachstehenden  Brief : 

„Scheidebrief  der  Anna  Maria  Flattich  geb.  Wild,  Iptingen, 
28.   April    1804. 

Da  Dir  schon  bekannt  ist,  dass  ich  mich  der  Separation 
ganz  ergeben  und  jetzt  die  Zeit  vorhanden  ist,  da  alle  meine 
Briider,  mit  denen  ich  verbunden  bin,  abreisen,  so  wirst  Du 
den  Schluss  selbst  machen  konnen,  dass  ich  nicht  mehr  bei  Dir 
sein  kann,  sondern  habe  mir  den  Schluss  selbst  gemacht  mit 
meinen  Briidern  zu  gehen,  denn  mein  Dasein  wiirde  Dir  nicht 
mehr  nutz  sein,  weil  mein  ganzes  Herz  in  meine  Briiderschaft 
eingeleibt  ist;  um  aber  Dich  nicht  in  eine  gespannte   Lage  zu 


174  The  Harmony  Society. 

setzen,  sondern  Dich  Deinem  eigiien  Gutbefinden  zu  uberlassefl, 
spreche  ich  Dich  von  alien  den  Pflichten,  die  Du  als  Ehemanrt 
gegen  mich  gehabt  und  auf  Dich  genommen,  wohlbedachtlich 
ganz  frei  und  los,  so  dass  Du  von  heute  an,  Dich,  wenn  es  Dir 
beliebt,  kannst  in  eine  andere  Verbindung  oder  Ehe  einlassen, 
wie  und  wann  Du  willst,  und  sehe  unsre  eheliche  Verbindung 
als  nicht  geschehen  an.  Ersuche  daher  alle  Obrigkeit  in  diesem 
Fach,  dass  sie  diese  rrieine  Dif  erlassene  Freiheit  mochten 
giitigst  angedeihen  lassen,  indem  es  mein  ernster  Entschluss 
ist,  mich  niemalen  in  das  eheliche  Fach  zu  begeben,  danke  Dif 
auch  zugleich  fur  alle  mir  erwiesene  Liebe  und  Freundschaft, 
die  Du  mir  getan.  Solches  bekenne  ich  mit  meiner  eignen 
Namens  unterschrift. 

ANNA  MARIA  FLATTICHIN." 

15.  1806  werden  noch  achtzehn  Separatisten  (acht  Manner, 
zehn  Frauen)  aufgezahlt,  von  denen  ein  Teil  1813  Und  1814  den 
fniheren  nach  Amerika  folgte,  die  iibrigen  als  die  ruhigeren 
offenbar  allmahlich  wieder  Frieden  mit  der  Landeskirche  ge- 
schlossen   haben. 

16.  Einen  gewissen  Ausgleich  der  Gerechtigkit  gibt, 
nachdem  wir  die  Sache  bisher  doch  in  der  Hauptsache  durch  die 
Brille  des  damaligen  Pfarrer  Genter  (von  dem  Jahf  1803  ab, 
Wiedersheim)  gesehen  haben,  eine  Bemerkung  in  einer  Pfarr- 
beschreibung  (etwa  aus  den  Jahren  1830  bis  1840)  : 

„Separatisten  befinden  sich  etliche  in  der  Gemeinde;  diese 
leiten  ihren  Ursprung  daher:  Pfarrer  Gotz  von  hier  bildete  eine 
Anzahl  Pietisten,  sein  Nachfolger  Genter  als  Feind  der  Pietisten 
eiferte  in  jedem  Gottesdienst  gegen  diese.  Sie  drohten  ihm, 
dass  sie  aus  der  Kirche  bleiben  mussten,  wenn  er  nicht  aufhorten 
gegen  sie  zu  eifern,  aber  fruchtlos,  und  so  haben  sie  sich  von 
der  Kirche  getrennt.  Nachher  wurden  sie  durch  den  Einfluss 
eines  Rapps,  der  sich  zum  Chef  aufgeworfen  und  sogar  politische 
Zwecke  in  seinen  Plan  aufgenommen,  verschlimmert  und  als 
dieser  ftirchtete,  man  gehe  ihm  zu  Leibe,  so  wartderte  er  mit 
einem  grossen  Teil  von  ihnen  nach  Amerika  aus,  wo  er  jetzt 
noch  als  Despot  iiber  die  Gesellschaft,  die  sich  Harmonie  nennt, 
herrscht  und  eine  glanzende  Rolle  spielt." 

17.  Gegenwartig  gibt  es  in  der  kleinen  Gemeinde  von  788 


Johann  Georg  Rapp's  House  in  Iptingen. 


View  of  Iptingen. 


The  Harmony  Society.  175 

Seelen  noch  vier  Gruppen  neben  den  allgcmeinen  Gemeinde 
ghedern :  Eine  kleine  altpictistische  Gcmeinschaft  (fiinf  Man- 
ner, zwolf  Weiber),  ferner  eine  Pregizerstunde  (acht  Miinner, 
fiinfzehn  bis  zwanzig  Weiber)  beide  im  ganzen  kirchenfreund- 
lich,  und  eine  methodistische  Richtung  (drei  Manner,  zehn  bis 
fiinfzehn  Weiber,  noch  nicht  ganz  von  der  Landeskirche  gelost.) 
Die  Rappische  Zeit  hat  nur  noch  insofern  ihre  Wellenringe 
bis  in  die  Gegenwart  hineingetrieben,  als  in  den  letzten  Jahr- 
zehnten  bei  nahender  Auflosung  der  Economygesellschaft  die 
Erbhoffnung  und  Lust  aufs  hochste  steigerte.  Rapp,  die  mit 
jener  Familie  verwandt  waren,  sind  allerdings  nicht  mehr  hier, 
dagegen  in  Nussdorf  und  von  manchen  Orten  Wtirttembergs, 
ja  Deutschlands,  kommen  Anfragen  von  Leuten,  die  Rapp 
heissen  oder  einen  Rapp  zu  Schwieger  und  Grossvater  hatten ; 
von  hier  waren  es  dann  besonders  die  Hornlischen.  Es  wur- 
den  Stammbaume  gefordert,  wurden  Advokaten  Procente  ver- 
sprochen,  alles  umsonst. 

18.     Aus  dem  Rappischen  Stammbaum. 

I. 
Nussdorf. 
Hans  Rapp,  geb.  1620,  ges.  1696. 
Erste  Frau   (?) 
Zweite  Frau :  Elisabeth,  geb.  Fiedler. 

II. 

Nussdorf. 
Hans  Jorg  Rapp,  copulirt  1677  mi^ 
Margrete  Schuler. 

Iptingen,  hierher  gezogen. 

III. 

Iptingen. 
Hans  Jorg  Rapp,  geb.  23.  Oktober  1678;  copulirt 
1707  mit  Barbara  Rieger. 

IV. 

Hans  Adam  Rapp,  geb.  13.  Mai  1720;  ges.  16.  Mai 
1771 ;  copulirt  12.  Oktober  1755  mit 
Rosine  Berger;  ges.   I.  Februar  1796. 


176  The  Harmony  Society, 

V. 

1  Marie  Dorothea  Rapp,  geb.  11.  Oktober  1756. 

2  Johann  Georg  Rapp,  geb.  1.  November  1757;  ge& 
Economy,  7.  August  1847;  copulirt  4.  Februar 
1783   mit   Christine    Benzinger. 

Vater  1803,  Mutter  und  Kinder  1804  nach  Amerika, 

3  Elise  Dorothea  Rapp,  geb.  7.  August  1760;  copu- 
lirt 27.  November  1804;  z°g  1817  niit  ihrem  Mann 
nach  Amerika. 

4  Adam  Rapp,  geb.  9.  Marz  1762,  soil  unterwegs  nach 
Amerika  auf  dem  Schifr'  gestorben  sein. 

5  Marie  Barbara  Rapp,  geb.  21.  Oktober  1765;  1817 
nach  Amerika  ausgewandert. 

VI 
(Kinder  von  Johann  Georg  Rapp  und  Christina,  seiner  Frau.) 

1  Johannes  Rapp,  geb.  22.  Dezember  1783. 

2  Rosine  Rapp,  geb.  10.  Februar  1786. 


Zu  den  Photographien  bemerke  ich  (der  Abschreiber)  : 

Auf  dem  Bild  I.  steht  das  Wohnhaus,  soweit  bekannt  zu- 
gleich  auch  Geburtshaus  des  Johann  Georg  Rapp,  gross  in  der 
Mitte,  so  dass  die  drei  Fenster  an  der  Giebelseite  gegen  die 
Strasse  und  die  zwei  Fenster  an  der  Langseite  die  Wohnraume 
bilden.  (Die  hintere  Seite  mit  dem  Blumenbrett  vor  den  Fen- 
stern  ist  wieder  eine  eigne  Wohnung,  wenigstens  jetzt.)  Wo 
jetzt  die  beiden  Dachladen  sind  an  der  Giebelseite  unter  dem 
Nistkastchen  (Maisenkastchen)  einer  ofren,  einer  geschlossen, 
seien  damals  auch  Fenster  eingesetzt  gewesen  und  diese  Kam- 
mer  bildete  dann  Rapps  Studier-  und  Meditationsstube,  wo  er 
seine  Erleuchtungen  erhielt. 

Auf  dem  Bild  II.  ist  das  Haus  Rapps  mit  dem  Bleistiftstrich 
angedeutet,  wieder  an  dem  Nistkastchen  kenntlich  aufgenom- 
men,  wie  es  im  „Hintergassle"  unseres  Dorfleins  steht.  Dabei 
ist  das  Ort  von  Sudost  gegen  Nordwest  aufgenommen. 

Auf  der  Ansichtskarte  III.  die  von  Norden  nach  Siiden 
aufgenommen,  ist  Rapps  Haus  nicht  mehr  sichtbar  es  wiirde  in 
der  Verlangerung  des  Pfeils  links  zwei  Hauser  breit  weiter  links 
stehen. 


Americana  Germanica 

NEW    SERIES 

MONOGRAPHS  DEVOTED  TO  THE  COMPARATIVE  STUDY  OP  THE 

Literary,  Linguistic  and  Other  Cultural  Relations 
of  Germany  and  America 


EDITOR 

MARION    DEXTER    LEARNED 
University  of  Pennsylvania 


CONTRIBUTING  EDITORS 

H.  C.  G.  Brandt  Julius  Goebel 

\Y.  H.  Carpenter  J.  T.  Hatfield 

W.  H.  Carruth  W.  T.  Hewett 

Hermann  Collitz  A.  R.  Hohlfeld 

Starr  W.  Cutting  Hugo  K.  Schilling 

Daniel  K.  Dodge  H.  Schmidt- Wartenber< 

A.  B.  Faust  Hermann  Schoenfeld 

Kino  Francke  Calvin  Thomas 

Adolph  Gerber  \\.  S.  White 
Henry   Wood 


philadelph  i  \ 
AMERICANA  GERMANICA   PRESS 

Berlin  New  York  Leipzig 

MAYER  &   MULLER         CARL  A.   STERN         F    A     BROCKHAUS 

London  Paris 

REGAN,  PAUL,  TRENCH,  TRUBNER  &  CO.,  Ltd.     II.  LeSOUDIER 


r 


